Bible Reading: Genesis 3; Ezra 3; Matthew 3; Acts 3
Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
It must have been quite a sight to see all the people of Jerusalem and Judea going out to be baptized by John in the river Jordan. Hundreds and maybe thousands of people gathered around listening to the fiery preacher denounce sin and call people to repentance. It must have been good watching to see John call the hypocrites out and denounce their lifestyles. It must have been humbling to stand on the brink of Jordan and wait your turn to go into the waters and show your repentance to God.
As the people gathered, they wanted the Messiah to come. There was an anticipation that filled everyone with excitement because they knew the time was close. The occupation from the Romans even added to the anticipation as the people wanted to be ride of the heavy Roman yoke.
Then one day, a man came walking through the crowd. John probably stopped in mid-sentence from one of his sermons. His eyes must have widened and his hands must have shaken as he pointed to Jesus coming toward him.
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
In the midst of all these fallen, sinful people a pure One came. John must have marveled as Jesus waded out into the water to him. As Jesus presented himself to John for baptism, John must have almost fallen over. No was his immediate answer. But with some encouragement and explanation, John did.
Matthew 3:14-15 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Then the heavens were opened up and the Holy Spirit like a dove descended upon Jesus. And a voice from heaven was heard. Now picture the day. In the presence of all these people, The Father declared his love for his son and told him that he was pleased with him. The Father is pleased with the Son and he let him know. In his identification with sinful humanity, the Father was pleased. In his humble obedience, the Father was pleased. In his righteous purity, the Father was pleased.
The Father is pleased with the Son and he is pleased with you when you are in Christ.
Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
One more thing…
It was patterned by our Heavenly Father to publically announce his love and pleasure in his Son. We should do the same with our children!
In Christ,
Rody
