“And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

In spite of His rejection by them He wants them to know that He is conscious that the Father is continually with Him. They may reject Him but His Father will not desert Him or leave Him on His own. Indeed He is with Him continually. For He is pleased with what He is doing. For as Jesus stresses, He always does what pleases Him. His whole life is given up to pleasing the Father.

His words remind us of the words of the Servant in Isaiah 42:1, and the words spoken by God at His baptism, ‘the one in whom I am well pleased' (although the Greek words for ‘please' are not the same). Jesus is the faithful Servant. Although He is facing approaching death His Father has not deserted Him, for He is doing His Father's will. Though He may be ‘lifted up' on the cross He will not be left alone, for He has been sent to be the One who would be led like a lamb to the slaughter that He may bear the sins of the world (Isaiah 53:6; Isaiah 53:10).

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising