Have you ever considered how much God the Father loves His Son, Jesus? As a father of five sons whom I love immensely, I can only imagine the depth of God’s love for Him. After all, God is the creator of love and embodies its very meaning (1 John 4:8). Throughout the New Testament, we see glimpses of His love for Jesus.

In the Gospel of Matthew, we read about the Father’s affirmation at the Lord’s baptism, where He declares, “This is my beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17). In John’s Gospel, we find John the Baptist saying, “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand” (John 3:35). Additionally, in John 5, Jesus states, “For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing…” (John 5:20a). The Father possesses an unfathomable love for Jesus.

Now, here’s the remarkable part: the same way the Father loves Jesus is the same way Jesus loves you.

In the middle of His sermon in John 15, Jesus takes a moment to shift the focus from the vine and branch analogy to His relationship with the Father. He expresses, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you…” (John 15:9a). Jesus wants us to understand that our relationship with God is not based on our ability to keep the law, our sacrifices, or our love for Him. Instead, it’s the exact opposite–it rests on His law-keeping, His sacrifice, and His love for us.

As we abide in Him, we must remember that we’re not living under His disappointment and displeasure. He doesn’t merely tolerate us like a parent who doesn’t like their child. No, that couldn’t be further from the truth. We are invited to abide in His agapē love, which is unconditional, unchanging, patient and kind, and never-ending (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

Today, take a moment to be still and know you are loved by God. Abide in His love. Rest in it and remain there. Reflect on His sinless life, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection, and take courage in your heart knowing that He did all of this for you.