And He that sent Me is with Me. The Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him. John 8:29 KJV
And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” John 8:29 NASB
There are four “always” statements often linked with the life of the Lord Jesus. There is the “always” of His Consecration (Psalm 16:8), of His Communion (John 11:42), of His Continuance (Hebrews 7:25 – translated as “ever” but is the same word as “always”). To this, some would add Proverbs 8:30. Our consideration, however, relates to His statement before His foes, “I do always those things that please Him.”
The first and most obvious thing to note is that words such as these in the mouth of any human being would be so outrageous as to warrant our scorn and condemnation. But this was not “any” human being. This is the Son of God speaking, and His words are neither an exaggeration nor a boast. They are words that perfectly reflect the reality of a relationship that existed between a Father and Son, not only in eternity but in time; not only amidst the undisturbed sanctity of the heavenly realm but as He moved amidst the squalor and sin of this earth.
There was an unbroken fellowship and an undisturbed fragrance which arose from that life to the heart of His Father. “I do always” would take us back to childhood days in Nazareth. Though a real child in every sense, He was never childish. Though He grew in the natural manner, moving through all the stages of life, He grew in grace and not in guilt. His hands were employed in manual labor but never in moral evil. Whether as a day-laborer in the carpenter’s shop or as a teacher moving amongst the nation, He was always bringing pleasure to His Father’s heart.
Millennia earlier, God looked down from heaven and every thought of the imagination of the hearts of men brought Him distress (Gen 6:5). In contrast, in the life of this perfect Man, His thoughts, as well as His actions were only and always bringing pleasure to a Father’s heart. The well-spring of every motive and thought was only pleasing continually to the all-seeing eye of God.
If you will pardon language which may border on hyperbole, the Father “hung” on every word of His Son; He eagerly anticipated every deed. He hungrily awaited every thought for the pleasure it brought to His heart. Finally, there was a Son, Servant, Man on earth who not only brought Him pleasure, but brought Him only and always pleasure. There was never disappointment or grief from this life. How could the Father ever cease being “with Him” or leaving Him? Here is what His heart had sought and in which it delighted.
An unceasing and uninterrupted life of pleasure to His Father meant an unceasing and uninterrupted enjoyment of the Father’s presence. And like a well-composed symphony, that fragrance rose to a crescendo height when in love for His Father, in an act of selfless sacrificial devotion, He gave His life at Calvary. He did “always” those things that pleased His Father.
Consider
Look back over the Scriptures which speak of what the Lord Jesus “always” did: Psalm 16:8, John 11:42, Hebrews 7:25, and Proverbs 8:30. Note again how each relates to a different aspect of His life.