This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” - Matthew 3v16-17

This is a unique passage in scripture. The baptism of Christ was an occasion of such import that all three persons of the Trinity were present. Jesus was there in the flesh, the Holy Spirit was there in the form of a dove, and God the Father spoke from heaven. In this way God put His public sanction on the ministry of Christ that He had approved and ordained before the foundation of the world.

There is more to it than that though – His words are a tremendous picture of His love when we consider what the ultimate purpose of His coming was for this beloved Son, with whom He was “well-pleased,” to go to the cross for my sins.

What a wonderful truth for us to remember. God loved us so much that He sent His beloved Son to die for our sins. All we can do in response to that kind of love is to respond by loving Him and serving Him.