“The Father That Sent Me Beareth Witness of Me”

One of the verses in this week’s Come Follow Me passages that really stuck out to me was John 8:18.

 

The Pharisees complained that the record Jesus bore was not true and that He shouldn’t be bearing record of Himself. Jesus declares that His testimony is, in fact, true.  But they don’t have to take only His word for it. In verse 18, Jesus said His Father also bore witness of Him.

 

I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

 

I love the image of the Savior knowing that He followed the Father’s designs and commandment exactly and, with full expectation, He knew that the Father would stand by Him and witness of Him.

 

While still pondering on that scripture, I tried to remember the ways Heavenly Father bore witness of His Son.

 

God the Father Spoke At Jesus’s Baptism

 

John the Baptist heard and bore record that the Father spoke at His Son’s baptism.

 

And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and John saw, and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Jesus.

 

And lo, he heard a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him.

The Father Testified of His Son on the Mount of Transfiguration

 

God the Father spoke to Peter, James, and John as they received keys on the Mount of Transfiguration.

 

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

 

And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

 

And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

 

Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

 

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

 

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

 

And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

 

After His Triumphal Entrance into Jerusalem, the Father Bore Witness

 

The Father bore record again of His Son. Some heard His voice, others heard the voice as a clap of thunder, while others still thought an angel spoke.

 

And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

 

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

 

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

 

Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

 

Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

 

The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

 

Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

Heavenly Father Shares the Savior’s Mission with Moses

 

Moses’ great encounter with God the Father and Jehovah testified of Christ’s divine mission and purpose.

 

And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.

 

But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.

The Father Commanded Nephi to Follow His Beloved Son

 

While teaching his people about following Jesus Christ, Nephi shared that Heavenly Father spoke to him.

 

And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?

 

And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.

 

And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.

God the Father Bore Witness of His Son to the Nephites

 

Like those in Jerusalem who heard a clap of thunder and didn’t understand the Father’s voice, when the Father spoke to the Nephites, they didn’t discern His words. However, unlike those in Jerusalem who couldn’t understand the Father’s voice, the Nephites focused on the sound, straining to understand it. Finally, they all heard the Father’s witness of His Beloved Son.

 

And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.

 

And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not.

 

And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.

 

And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:

 

Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

 

And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them….

The Father Bore Witness of Jesus Christ during the First Vision

 

In this dispensation, God the Father again witnessed of His Beloved Son to Joseph Smith, appearing to the young man in answer to a fervent prayer.

 

When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

 

These are the incidents I can think of where God the Father directly references Jesus Christ as His Beloved Son. The scriptures overflow with stories and commandments that directly or indirectly teach of the Father’s love for His Son and stand as the Father’s witness of Jesus Christ’s life and ministry.