Saturday 10th January
Read Matthew 3:16-17
“As soon as Jesus was baptised, 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.’” (NIVUK)
If the first statement recalls God’s promises to David, the second recalls God’s words to Abraham. The ‘beloved Son’ is not simply an affectionate way to communicate, though it is not less than that. It is a specific phrase recalling another ‘beloved son’, Isaac.
God promised Abraham that all the nations would be blessed through him, promising a son, and indeed family, that would be good news for the world. Through much suffering and some self-inflicted grief, but mostly through God’s faithfulness, Isaac was eventually born to Sarah in her old age.
“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied.
2 Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you love – Isaac – and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain that I will show you.’” (Genesis 22:1-2) (NIVUK).
When God affirms Jesus as His Son, he is also affirming something about His future. Abraham’s promised blessing to the nations will flow through Him but sacrifice and death may be required.
With each passing phrase we learn more about who Jesus is. We learn more about what love looks like.
