Recently while studying the Gospels, I spent some time meditating on the baptism of Jesus, to see how he remained in his Father’s love. Jesus’ baptism is one of the most insightful moments in the Gospels. It’s like overhearing a conversation between the Trinity: “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. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’”
I had never before noticed the timing of this verse in Jesus’ life. Jesus was yet to cast out demons, raise the dead, confront the Pharisees, train his disciples, die for our sins, or be resurrected from the grave; yet, the Father tells him that he is pleased with him. Jesus, until this point, had been laboring in obscurity as a humble carpenter; so what was the Father pleased with? It couldn’t have been his ministry or his teaching or his leadership, as these were yet to happen. What had Jesus done that made the Father proud? He had spent thirty years cultivating an abiding passion and love for God. The only glimpse we have of Jesus in his early years is in the temple, seeking to be about his Father’s business.
Taken from: http://www.catalystspace.com/content/read/SEPT11–the_love_youve_only_heard_about/
Filed under: Christianity
