One of the most amazing Statements in the Bible, I think, is found in John 15:9. Jesus said: “As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you.”

Can you imagine?

Had I been told that Jesus loves me “half as much” as the Father loves Him, I’d be thrilled!

But that opening word “as” (in Greek “kathos,” an adverb) means “TO THE SAME DEGREE!”  (By the way, “kathos” is the first word in the Greek Sentence as well as the English Sentence, King James Version, showing ultra-great priority!)

This is almost incomprehensible!

Yet I KNOW it is true!

Jesus, in John 17:23 is praying to His Father: “That the world may know that thou hast … loved them, as thou hast loved me.” Here it is again, with “kathos” still being the modifier, quantifier. Qualifier too!

Again, listen to our Lord: “And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26

This being so … the Father loving us as He loves Jesus … no wonder the Disciple John later writes: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” Here citing 1 John 3:1.

But WHY does the Father love us so? Putting in us the same Love He has for His Darling Son?

Here’s Jesus’ Answer to that question. “Why?” John 16:27 … “The Father himself loveth you, BECAUSE ye have loved me.”

Wow!

Sounds like the Very Godhead functions on Love!

In fact, LOVE AND GRACE AND MERCY just may be the crowing attributes of Almighty God, our Triune God in Heaven!

Rest today, my Christian friend, in that supreme Love!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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