The Beloved

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13-17, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
John baptizes Jesus, and as he comes up out of the water still dripping with the Jordan River, the heavens open and he sees the Spirit of God descending toward him like a dove. 

The Spirit of God alights upon him as a heavenly voice announces from heaven, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” The revelation to the crowd involves the action of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The voice not only addresses Jesus, the announcement is for our benefit, as well.

These words from Matthew above launch Jesus into the wilderness where the Spirit leads him. The three synoptic Gospels —Matthew, Mark, and Luke— identify Jesus’ baptism and the epiphany followed by his forty-day fast and temptation in the desert as the precursor to his public ministry. Jesus’ “time” has come, and he begins to preach saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 3:2; 4:17). He goes through all Judea “doing good and healing..., for God was with him ” (Acts 10:38). 

God’s claim on Jesus’ life is confirmed for us in God’s naming him “the Beloved”; the obedience of Jesus’ life confirms the manner in which Christ-followers are to live. Do you understand yourself to be God’s beloved? How has that understanding shaped your living? 

“This is [ fill in your name ], whom I love—the Beloved—with whom I am well pleased.” Who has spoken these words to you? When have you spoken them to another? May the power of this affirmation and confirmation lead you into the world in obedience.


PRAYER:
Prayerfully reflect on your daily life and ask God to increase in you the grace of obedience in following Jesus.


WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and nothing has been more transformative in my life than the divinely-revealed understanding that I am God's beloved child.