And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
The Word, the Son, Jesus, comes from the Father. Here the title “Father,” so important in the Fourth Gospel—so important in the new covenant—is introduced for the first time.
Jesus reveals God to be the Father, because he declares himself to be the Son.
An Extraordinary Relationship to God
Jesus is referred to as the Son of God, the Son of Man, and, more often than not, as simply “the Son.” These three titles all have their nuances and they combine to present a rich picture of the person of Jesus (along with all the other titles used of Jesus through the course of the Gospel, especially chapter 1). The “Son” titles speak of Jesus’ messianic role; his humanity, his mission, and his extraordinary relationship with the Father. Jesus continually refers to “my Father” in an intimate and filial sense that is at once intriguing and shocking to his listeners.
In John 5 a serious dispute arises over Jesus use of the phrase “my Father.” Jesus is defending his actions in apparently working on the Sabbath and his defence is that his Father continues to work, so why shouldn’t he? His opponents take offence and realise the implications of this statement that Jesus is in fact making himself equal with God.
In the lengthy statement that follows explains a little more of what it means for him to be the Son of the Father. It means he is utterly dependent and obedient; it means he is absolutely conscious of the Father’s love for him; it means that he is able give life to anyone whom he wants; it means he has been granted the right to pass judgement; and it means that he is to be honoured in the same way as the Father is to be honoured.
Right at the end of this speech Jesus brings all three ‘Son’ titles into play with each other in a passage dense with meaning:
I assure you: An hour is coming and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. And he has granted Him the right to pass judgement, because he is the Son of Man. (Jn 5: 25-27).
His Father and Ours
The obedient, sacrificial, life-giving sonship of Jesus enables his followers to become the children of God too. In John 20 we read how, following his resurrection, Jesus meets Mary in the garden outside his tomb. Eventually she recognises him and, in that moment, she is told to “go to my brothers and tell them I am ascending to my Father and your Father—to my God and your God.” In this moment the privilege of sonship—the privilege of being known as a child of God—is extended to Jesus’ followers. Prior to this, only Jesus has addressed God as Father. This privilege is now extended. Prior to this the disciples have been addressed by name, as followers, as friends … now they are brothers.
This incident forms a bracket with the beginning of the Gospel. As John unfolds his story of the Word’s encounter with the world in John 1:1-13 it looks like a tragedy is unfolding. The Word comes to the world that he has made; the Word comes to his own people but is not understood and rejected. The darkness is dense. But in the midst of this the light shines, and John reminds us that all who receive Jesus and believe in his name receive the right to be called God’s children: and that this gift comes by the gracious will of God.
The Privilege of Sonship
The incarnation of the Son reveals the wonderful truth that God is the Father. The incarnation of the Son opens up the possibility of many becoming the children of God; sons and daughters, brothers and sisters; adopted children, to pick up Paul’s metaphor; co-heirs together in the family of God.
And all of this comes to a head in the privilege of addressing God as Father in prayer with all the respect, trust, confidence, security, gratitude, dependence that addressing a loving heavenly Father in prayer implies.
Thanks be to God that the word became flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld his glory, the glory of the unique one from the Father!
Photos: (Header) Staci Flick, flickr; (Body) Kelly Lambert, flickr
