Reading: “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.”—John 10:17

Mark the precious reason which Jesus gives for the love of His Father. God the Father not only loves God the Son, as God, one with Him in nature and in all divine perfections; but He loves Him peculiarly because He voluntarily undertook and accomplished by His death the salvation of His people.

Now then, my soul, learn these two sweet lessons from what Jesus has said. First, think what must have been, and now is, the love of God and Father to you and every poor sinner, when He truly loved His dear Son because He became the Saviour of poor sinners.

Secondly, think what love Jesus has shown to poor sinners in thus manifesting His mercy, and how dear they must be to the heart of Jesus, which have made Him dear in the sight of God. My soul, never lose sight of this argument when you go to the mercy-seat. Tell your God and Father thou you come to ask mercies in His name, in the name of the One whom the Father loves on this very account. Oh, how very dear should Jesus be to me for His blood and righteousness; He is dear to the Father for the same reason!

Behold, what manner of love is this, that Christ should be arraigned and we adorned, that the curse should be laid on His head and the crown set on ours”—Thomas Watson

Taken from The Poor Man’s Evening and Morning Portions by Rev. Robert Hawker, Works, Vol. 8; 1830. Edited by Aaron Dunlop for thinkgospel.com ©2013.