I love being a grandfather. Our three grandchildren live in Central Ohio and we don’t get to see them as often as we would like. However, we all have iPhones and we can FaceTime. If you are not familiar, FaceTime allows a person to make a video phone call and see & talk with each other. I love it when Jill’s phone number asks me if I want to FaceTime, because I know that the first person I will see is Ellie and/or Evan.
Last week Jill was cleaning her house. Evan (the 1 year old) went in her room and got her iPhone out of her purse. He took it to her and kept saying “Pappaw, Pappaw.” I guess he thinks I live in the iPhone.
I love my children and grandchildren. I enjoy knowing my children and grandchildren love me. It’s wonderful when you hear the one you love tell you they love you.
When Jesus began His ministry, He was baptized by John the Baptist and anointed by the Holy Spirit. His Father spoke from heaven giving His approval.
“… and there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)
All three members of the Godhead are present at this occasion – the Son is getting baptized, the Holy Spirit is in the form of a dove, and the Father is speaking.
The words of the Father are actually a collection of texts from the Psalms, the book of Genesis and Isaiah. They contain 3 striking statements:
1. You are my Son. The statement comes from Psalm 2:7. The coronation of a new king would have been an occasion on which this psalm would have been used. These words point to Jesus as the one through whom God’s reign would be established. Jesus never became the Son of God, either at His baptism or at His transfiguration or at any other time. He is always the eternal Son of God. Hence, God’s statement affirms their eternal relationship.
2. Whom I love. This is a connection to Genesis 22:2. In that passage God told Abraham to take his only son, the beloved, to Mount Moriah to offer as a sacrifice. As Jesus has submitted His will to be baptized, He will submit his will to die on the cross. It is the great love between them that makes the sacrifice so great.
3. With you I am well pleased. This comes from the description of God’s servant in Isaiah 42:1. It refers not to just any servant of God, but to the suffering servant portrayed in Isaiah 40-55, who brings justice to the nations. According to Isaiah 43:10 the suffering servant is none other than the nation of Israel. In Mark 1:11, however, the suffering servant is not the nation of Israel, but Jesus. This statement communicates the pleasure of the Father not only with the Son in the past but for the unique ministry into which He was about to enter – to die for the sin of mankind as the servant of God.
When God looks at us, every baptized and believing Christian, anointed and ready to do His will, He says to us what He said to Jesus on that day: ‘You are my child. I love you. I am pleased with you.’
Who am I? I am a servant of God to do whatever He wants. I am a servant of God with all the power of God to do what He wants. I am a servant of God, a child of God, and He loves me and delights in me.
God loves you. He expressed it so vividly on the cross. Can you sense His smile on your life? How will you show your love for Him today?