“The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.” (John 3:35 ESV)

God the Father loves God the Son. He loves His Son so much that He has given all things into “his hand.” Jesus Christ has been granted sovereign lordship over everything in this universe.

“That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet…” (Ephesians 1:20-22 ESV)

All things are the Son’s. This is the gift from His Father to demonstrate the Father’s great love for His Son.

Why does the Father love the Son so much? The Father loves the Son because the Son perfectly radiates the glory of God. He is of the same divine essence, manifesting the same glorious perfections as the Father.

“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” (Hebrews 1:3 ESV)

The Father loves the Son because the Son delights His Father. He lived a life of perfect obedience and loved His Father supremely, bringing great pleasure to His Father.

“And behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’”  (Matthew 3:17 ESV)

This love of the Father for the Son is far beyond anything we can imagine. God loves His Son with an infinite, eternal love. The Father delights in His Son. His Son brings Him great joy and happiness.

But the Father’s love and gift does not end at His Son. Here is a truth that should leave you speechless: When you are united to the Son by faith, God’s great love and great gift are granted to you!

Because you are united to Christ, God loves you as He loves His Son:

“That the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:23 ESV)

Because you are united to Christ, God gives you all things as a fellow heir with His Son:

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 ESV)

We do not receive these things because of any merit in ourselves. We receive God’s great love and great gift because of the merit of another, Jesus Christ. He has become our pardon and perfection before the Father. Because we are in the Son, we experience the pleasure of the Father. Thus, as undeserving as we are, we become beneficiaries of the Father’s great love for His Son.