How we see God shapes everything—our identity, our values, our relationships, and even our sense of purpose. In Jesus’ worldview, God is not an abstract force or a distant deity, but a loving Father with both supreme authority and unwavering compassion. Jesus’ teachings, actions, and interactions reveal a deeply relational understanding of God, one that challenges both religious legalism and secular independence.

Through parables, miracles, and moments of intimate prayer, Jesus shows us a view of God that reorients our assumptions and invites us into a trust-filled relationship grounded in agape love. Let’s explore how Jesus perceived the Father and how His view equips us to engage today’s culture with clarity and confidence.

A God Who Is Actively Involved: Luke 15 and the Prodigal Son

One of the most vivid illustrations of Jesus’ view of the Father is found in Luke 15:11–32, the Parable of the Prodigal Son. In this powerful story, Jesus describes a father whose authority is absolute but whose love is never withheld.

Pull Quote:
“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him.” – Luke 15:20

The father in the story grants the younger son’s rebellious request to leave, yet waits patiently for his return. When the son comes back broken and repentant, the father runs to him, embraces him, and restores him to sonship. Authority and love are not at odds—they are united in the Father’s heart.

This parable was radical in its time. To Jesus’ audience, a Middle Eastern patriarch would never humiliate himself by running to a rebellious son. But Jesus challenges cultural norms to reveal the true heart of the Father—a God who exercises authority without coercion and shows mercy without condition.

Chosen and Commissioned: John 15:16

In John 15:16, Jesus reminds His disciples that their identity and mission originate in the Father’s authority:

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.”

God’s authority includes initiative. He chooses us before we ever think to choose Him. This verse demonstrates divine favor and intentionality. We are not random recipients of grace; we are chosen and commissioned. This authority isn’t about domination—it’s about empowerment for fruitfulness.

God’s Authority Is Not Abusive but Relational

Jesus shows that divine authority is never impersonal. In contrast to the political and religious power structures of His time, Jesus introduces a relational model of authority that empowers rather than oppresses.

In Matthew 20:25–28, Jesus contrasts the authority of the Gentile rulers with God’s authority:

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you.”

Jesus teaches that true authority serves, heals, and uplifts. The Father’s authority in Jesus’ worldview is an invitation to partnership rather than a demand for performance.

Agape Love as the Foundation of God’s Character

Agape love—the self-giving, sacrificial love that seeks the good of others—is at the very core of God’s nature. Jesus not only taught it; He lived it. His love was not transactional or conditional.

Consider John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…”

The giving nature of God stems from His character. He is a giver, not a taker. This changes everything about how we relate to Him and to each other.

How Jesus Modeled the Father’s Heart

In John 14:9, Jesus tells Philip, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Jesus is the clearest picture of who God is. Every time Jesus forgives, heals, or includes the marginalized, He is revealing the heart of the Father.

Let’s look at a few examples:

• John 8:1–11 – The woman caught in adultery: Jesus defends her from condemnation, reflecting the Father’s heart to restore rather than destroy.

• Mark 5:25–34 – The woman with the issue of blood: Jesus stops everything to call her “daughter,” affirming her dignity and worth.

• Matthew 9:36 – Jesus has compassion on the crowds because “they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

These moments reveal a God who is near, engaged, and loving—yet still fully authoritative.

Our Response to the Father’s Authority and Love

If we are to adopt Jesus’ worldview, we must reshape our own perception of God. Many people today carry wounds from authoritarian parents, absentee leaders, or manipulative religious systems. But Jesus reintroduces us to the Father in truth.

To live under the Father’s authority is not a burden—it’s freedom. To be loved by Him with agape love is not sentimental—it’s transformational.

When we receive both His authority and His love, we find our identity, calling, and peace. We become stewards, not owners; sons and daughters, not slaves.

Bringing the Father’s Heart into Today’s Culture

Our culture wrestles with authority. Whether it’s in families, government, or church, many view authority as dangerous or oppressive. But Jesus shows us a different way—where authority empowers and love covers.

In a society marked by isolation and confusion about identity, we must carry the Father’s heart:

• Lead with humility.

• Love sacrificially.

• Relate relationally.

• Speak truth with compassion.

By doing so, we reflect the worldview of Jesus and offer a compelling alternative to the chaos of culture.

Summary

Jesus’ view of God as a loving Father with absolute authority forms the foundation of His entire ministry and message. This perspective challenges us to reject distorted views of God and embrace the biblical revelation of a Father who empowers, forgives, and loves with relentless grace.

Key Points

• Jesus’ view of God was deeply relational—He revealed a Father who is both authoritative and filled with agape love.

• The Father’s authority is expressed through empowerment, not domination.

• Receiving God’s authority and love reshapes our identity and mission in the world.

Engaging Question

How has your view of God shaped the way you respond to His authority and love—and how might embracing Jesus’ view of the Father change that?