Text: Matthew 3:17 – “ And a voice from heaven
said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’”
We saw yesterday the anointing by the Holy Spirit following Jesus’ baptism. In today’s study, we see the approval of the Father.
A voice from Heaven says, “This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with Him.” God speaks and shows His approval of His Son. We should heed that if we follow what God wants, He will approve us also.
In this passage is one of the places that we have the presence of
the entire Trinity – establishing Jesus’ earthly ministry as the Messiah. Many
groups want to deny the Trinity (after all that word is not in the Scriptures).
However, in both the Old and New Testaments we see the work and character of
the Triune God. To deny the Trinity is to deny God as He has revealed himself
to us. Can I explain how God can be three individual persons and yet One? No,
but then I am not God. So, in the last couple of days we have seen:
- ·
The Son’s Acceptance of
Obedience
- ·
The Spirit’s Anointing of the
Son
- · The Father’s Approval of the Son
As we leave this chapter, let us make a few short observations.
First, in John the Baptizer, we have an example of humility. Blessed with great success, attended by the great and noble, and with nothing but principle to keep him from turning it to his advantage, he still kept himself out of view, and pointed to a far greater Personage at hand. So should every minister of Jesus, however successful, keep the Lamb of God in his eye and be willing - nay, rejoice - to lay all his success and honors at Jesus‘ feet.
Second, everything about the work of Jesus was wonderful. No person had before come into the world under such circumstances. God would not have attended the commencement of his life with such wonderful events if it had not been of the greatest moment to our race, and if he had not possessed a dignity above all prophets, kings, and priests. His “name” was to be called “Wonderful, Councilor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace;” “of the increase of his government and peace” there was to be “no end;” “upon the throne of David and of his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice forever” Isaiah 9:6-7.
Third, it was proper that a voice from heaven should declare that he was the long-promised prince and Savior; that the angels should attend him, and the Holy Spirit signalizes his baptism by his personal presence.
And it is proper that we, for whom he came, should give to him our
undivided affections, our time, our influence, our hearts, and our lives.
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