Tag: well pleased
“My Beloved Son!”
Scripture reading for October 4: Matthew 1-4
We are finally in the New Testament! Four hundred years of silence have passed and God is speaking again! He is fulfilling a number of prophesies that He gave over the years concerning His Son. A virgin, named Mary, gives birth to a son. (Matthew 1:22-23) This virgin and her betrothed husband, Joseph, are descendants of King David and their genealogy is traced back to Abraham. (Matthew 1:1-16) This “Son” was born in Bethlehem, fulfilling what the prophet Micah had predicted nearly 700 years earlier. (Matthew 2:6)
Gentile wise men came to worship Him Who was born “King of the Jews.” In their search, they came to Judea and visited King Herod. Herod became jealous and ordered the destruction of all boys 2 years and younger. God had already intervened and warned Joseph and Mary to depart for Egypt. This fulfilled two other prophesies about Rachel weeping for her children and God calling His Son out of Egypt. (Matthew 2:15-18) When Joseph and Mary returned to Israel after Herod’s threat had passed, they settled in Nazareth. Jesus was called a “Nazarene” in fulfillment of prophetic word!
The Book of Malachi had ended with a promise from God that He would send Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord. (Malachi 4:5-6) Elijah’s message would seek to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Matthew records the ministry of John the Baptist preaching in the Desert of Judea and calling God’s people to repentance symbolized by water baptism. John was Jesus’ cousin and had a special call from God to prepare the way for His Son. Repentance is a basic requirement to prepare a heart to receive the truth. (Matthew 3:1-3)
John the Baptist spoke plainly to the religious leaders who came to ridicule him. He warned them that One was coming Who would not just baptize with water, but with the Holy Spirit and fire! (Matthew 3:7-11) When Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized by John, John tried to reverse the situation. Jesus insisted on His need to be baptized to fulfill “all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15) The Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove. The Father spoke: “This is My Beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.” Father God, we thank You for sending Your Beloved Son and giving believers Your Holy Spirit!
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went out of the water. At that moment heaven opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My Son, Whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17
Jesus, the Father’s delight!
Scripture reading for January 2nd: Mark1, Psalm 1, Proverbs 1
Mark 1: 9-11 “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when He came up out of the water, immediately He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.”
John Mark was a friend of Paul, Barnabas and Peter. His mother’s house was a gathering place for the early church. Mark likely wrote this Gospel primarily from eye-witness accounts of Peter. He portrayed Jesus Christ as a man of compassion, action, and good news. He left out accounts of Jesus’ early life, and began with John the Baptist (Jesus’ cousin) and Jesus’ baptism by him. Jesus was submerged by John, who was preparing the people of Israel for the coming Messiah. As Jesus came out of the water, the heavens were torn open and the Holy Spirit (the Father’s Gift), descended on Jesus. A voice from heaven, God the Father, announced Jesus as His ‘Beloved Son’ and exclaimed how delighted He was in His Son! Jesus was then baptized as an act of identification with the sins of all mankind and began to preach the Gospel (Good News) of forgiveness of sins through repentance and faith. .
Mark 1:38-39 “And He said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And He went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.”
Prayer: Father God, Your amazing plan of salvation through sending Your Son still overwhelms me. Thank You for Your delight in Your Son and Your delight in the message of grace and forgiveness to all who believe. I willingly follow Jesus Christ and confess Him as my Lord and Savior. Use me today to fulfill Your plan to preach the Good News to all people in all nations. May my life of faith in Jesus give You delight!
Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.”
Proverbs 1:33 “. but whoever listens to Me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
God’s Only Son!
Scripture reading for February 8th: Mark 1, Psalm 29, Proverbs 29
Key Scriptures: Mark 1:7-11 “And he (John the Baptist) preached, saying, ‘After me comes He who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when He came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are My Beloved son; with You I am well pleased.””
Mark, a first-generation believer, was a church leader in the church in Rome. He wrote this gospel account of the life of Jesus Christ to tell the love story of Jesus to Gentiles. He wrote this as an action account. Here he lays the foundation of our faith understanding about who Jesus Christ is: God’s beloved Son. He relays how John the Baptist prepared the way by preaching repentance and pointing to the coming Messiah.
Faith Confession: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Father, and that Jesus Christ baptizes me in the Holy Spirit. (The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophesy.)
Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.”