Matthew 3:13–17 ‘And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” (v17)

‘How can Jesus love me?’ This is something we hear frequently from all sorts of people living with guilt, regret and shame – perhaps those who think they are beyond God’s love, or those who keep stumbling over the same habitual issues.

Yet, in order to understand the depth of Christ’s love for us, it is helpful to primarily think about the love that exists within the Trinity. 

We see this in the baptism of Jesus, where in Matthew chapter 3, verses 16–17 we read: ‘As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water.

At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’.

The love expressed by God the Father, towards His Son, witnessed by the Spirit, is unquestionable – yet how does this encourage us?

With that unquestionable love in mind, Jesus tells us in John 15, verse 9: ‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.’

The same love that exists between the Trinity, is the love that is lavished upon us. God’s love towards you is unquestionable, and it is in this we can rest. As the hymnwriter puts it:

Oh love that will not let me go I rest my weary soul in you
I give you back the life I owe
That in your ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be.

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A PRAYER TO MAKE:
‘Lord, thank You that Your love for me is unquestionable. Amen.’

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AN ACTION TO TAKE:
Think about the extent of the love between Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
and then ponder Jesus’ words: ‘As the Father has loved me,
so have I loved you.’ Offer up praise and
thanks for His unquestionable love.

scripture

SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER:
Jer. 31:3; John 15:9–17; 1 John 4:19

Micha Jazz is Director of Resources at Waverley Abbey, UK.