We learn through Jesus' prayer that the Father loves us in the same manner that he loves his Son (John 17:23,26; 15:10). I am not sure that I am able to wrap my mind around this concept. The impact of this truth boggles the mind. Perhaps we need to examine how the Father loves the Son to get a better glimpse into what this means.
We know the Father glorifies his Son (John 17:5; 12:28). We know he defeats his enemies (1 Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:22; Hebrews 2:8) and has given him all that belongs to the Father (John 16:15; 17:7). We also know the Father gave Jesus a mission to accomplish and a specific message to speak (John 4:34; 5:36; 12:49-50).
There is one thing that has at times troubled me. The Father allowed the Son to be crucified for me. What joy and what terror. Jesus asked that he not have to go through the pain (Hebrews 5:7; Matthew 26:39-42). But when the Father did not remove the cup of suffering, Jesus focused on the eternal outcome (Hebrews 12:1-3).
The Father does not ask us to suffer without an eternal outcome that is far greater than our measure of suffering (Romans 8:18).
