Jesus His Purpose

Jesus had a purpose in life – to tell us about his wonderful Father in heaven. Jesus gave us an “up-close-and-personal” look at God the Father:

Matt 11:27 (Jesus is Speaking)
27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (NIV)

John 14:6‑9
6          Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7          If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
8          Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
9          Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (NIV)

I. The Father's Love

John 3:35‑36
35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (NIV)

John 15:9
9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. (NIV)

They love the same things, they have the same purpose in life, they agree on all topics, they desire to be together, and missed each other when Jesus was on earth.

Why is it so important to the Father that we love his Son?

The Father knows what Jesus sacrificed to be here on earth. He understands and has watched his heart from all eternity. He does not like it when people refuse to see that his son is such a great person.

Luke 6:35‑36
35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (NIV)

Matt 6:26
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (NIV)

The Apostle Paul had this comment about God’s love for us:

Rom 5:8
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NIV)

In your own words describe what Jesus is saying about the Father's attitude toward people.

The Father extends himself in love toward all people. He has created a world in which even the wicked have what they need to live. God’s first impulse is to act in love and mercy. If people refuse that love and mercy, He reluctantly has to act as a judge against the wicked.

John 5:19,20
19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. (NIV)

John 10:14‑18 (Jesus Speaking)
14        "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me‑‑
15        just as the Father knows me and I know the Father‑‑ and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16        I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
17        The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life‑‑ only to take it up again.
18        No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."   (NIV)

What does the Father’s willingness for the Son to die for us reveal about His character?

God the Father extends himself in love for us. A high priority in his life is to provide for our forgiveness.

Jesus told a story that reveals the Father's heart of love. A son had left home, squandered his inheritance, and lived a vile, sinful life. He realized his sin and returned to his father:

Luke 15:20-24
20        So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21        "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22        "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23        Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.
24        For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. (NIV)

We come to the father humbly. We recognize that we have sinned--done what is wrong in God’s sight. We ask forgiveness.

III. The Father's Expectations

We come into a relationship with the father by receiving forgiveness through Christ. Once forgiven our natural response is to love and obey the Father. We obey God because we are already forgiven, not in order to be forgiven.

Matt 6:1,5,6
1          "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven....
5          "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
6          But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (NIV)

Why is it important to God that our righteous acts are "in secret"?

This proves our sincerity. If we brag about what we have done we are doing it for other people, to be noticed by them. An act done in secret is just for the Lord’s eyes, to please him.

God is not just some softie up in heaven giving out gifts, but he has backbone to Him. He is Holy, and he expects people to live according to a high standard. The Father Demands Obedience:

Matt 18:23‑35
23        "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24        As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.
25        Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26        "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.'
27        The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28        "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
29        "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
30        "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
31        When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32        "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.
33        Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'
34        In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35        "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."   (NIV)

Mark 11:25
25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." (NIV)

What does this say about the responsibilities of those who have been forgiven?

God expects of his children that they be forgiving people. When we forgive another we are acknowledging how great was the forgiveness we were given by God.

John 15:1‑3
1          "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
2          He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
3          You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. (NIV)

IV. The Father's Promise of a Bright Future

Matt 13:43‑50
43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. (NIV)

Luke 12:32‑34
32        "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
33        Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
34        For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (NIV)

John 10:27‑30
27        My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28        I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
29        My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.
30        I and the Father are one." (NIV)

As you think back over the things we know about the father, what stands out as most encouraging for you?

To me the Father’s consistent and perfect love stands out. He has a big plan that he has been working on since the beginning of time. It involves his showering us with his love. He keeps giving and we keep resisting. Why would we resist such perfect and pure love as this?

No one else could have given us this perspective on the Father. We have seen a very intimate and powerful picture of the God of the universe. He loves us and has proven that love in many ways. The best way we can show him our love is to love the Son, and obey the Son.

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