This is a most ineffable name of God. In a perfectly unique way it stands in relation to the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a relationship He shares with none besides. There ever was the Father. There ever was the Son, the "only begotten" Son of God. (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). As the old divine put it: "LIFE—the Father from all eternity giveth it; the Son from all eternity receiveth it." There ever was the Holy Spirit. Their Godhead glory they share with none.
But how wonderful in a different way believers on the Lord Jesus Christ are children of God, and can call Rim Father. What joy must have filled the heart of the blessed Lord, when risen and triumphant, He sent the message by Mary Magdalene to His disciples, saying, "Go to MY BRETHREN, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God." (John 20:1717Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)) What a glorious message! Here we believers are seen in a relationship with God as Father in association with our blessed Lord. Divine life has been communicated to us, made possible by the atoning work of our Lord on the cross. We read, "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might LIVE through Him." (1 John 4:99In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9)).
We have been made partakers of the Divine nature, not as being lifted to the level of Deity, that could never be, not that we should be omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, but sharing the moral qualities of the Divine life, such as love, purity, compassion, holiness, righteousness, possessing a nature that can commune with God.
But note in our quotation from John 20:17,17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17) our Lord, in sending this marvelous message to His brethren, is careful to indicate by the very phrasing of the message His pre-eminence, which surely we all most gladly recognize. He did not say OUR Father, but carefully distinguished between "MY" and "YOUR." He is not ashamed to call us brethren, but remembering who He is, and what He has done for our eternal blessing, it would be quite out of place to call Him, as so many Christians do, our elder Brother." Let us keep to the phrasing of Scripture, and exercise that deep reverence that becomes us, yet rejoicing in the wondrous relationship we are called to enjoy. How wondrous that God sent His Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we might take this ineffable name of Father on our lips, and with the confidence of children cry, "Abba Father." (Gal. 4:66And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)). We read, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." (Rom. 8:16, 1716The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:16‑17)).