Jesus shows us that God wants a relationship with us

John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. The apostle had previously said that through Jesus, grace and truth came into being in such a way that they could be realized. In this verse, the same root word is used but translated only begotten. The point is that the one and only God has revealed Himself in such a way as to become relatable to mankind. Up to that time in history, such revelation had not occurred. We obviously don’t have time to go back through God’s relationship with Israel to support John’s point. Abraham, Moses, and the fathers never saw God in such a way that they could relate to Him as a person. As was said in the previous verse, God’s revelation of Himself in the Law did not explain God’s personhood, so His grace and truth were cloaked. John made that clear when he said that no one has seen God at any time. We learn that Jesus is in the bosom of the Father. What’s the point? I think it is in the word translated as explain. Jesus has explained God to the world. The Greek word entails the idea of to lead, carry, and thus to show the way to the Father. Maybe John got the idea from Jesus’ declaration about Himself in John 14:6 and following. See if you can make the connection. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Did you get it? Jesus said to the disciples that if they have seen Him, they have seen the Father. That’s the point of verse 18. Jesus comes forth into this world from the bosom of the Father, God, showing us God is relatable. He wants a relationship. It is central to who God is. The Father and Son have an intimate relationship, and Jesus leads the way for us to have an intimate relationship with God as well. As the writer of Hebrews said in 2:10, “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. And Peter wrote, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit” (1 Peter. 3:18). Jesus leads the way to the Father. He brings us to Him by explaining to us that the Father loves us like He loves His Son. His bosom is open and welcoming to everyone who knows Him through Jesus Christ, His Son. I hope we will let the truth of this incredible verse sink into our souls. Meditate on Jesus and who He is, where He has come from, and what that means to us. That’s how you’ll be encouraged to live to love with Jesus. You are walking in relationship with God, the Father, through His Son, whom He sent to bring you to Him, so you might know that God is love. His will is set to do what is in your highest good (bring you to Him to know and share His glory), no matter what it cost Him (which it cost Him dearly by pouring out His wrath on His only Son, in your place). Jesus shows us, explained through His life and death, what God’s love is. Experiencing His love, being drawn into the bosom of the Father, knowing we are safe and at peace with God, we can love out of the fullness of Christ. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may be encouraged to turn their hearts to God and live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.