Spoken For
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”
And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:29-34
INSIGHT
John the Baptist was given the honor of baptizing Jesus. Stop for a moment and imagine what that experience must have been like for him. Most people would use that as leverage for any conversation, but not John. He immediately established his role as one who is unworthy to do such an act: “... He who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie” (John 1:29).
Because of this posture, he was invited into an intimate moment with Jesus. John recognized the opportunity to baptize Jesus was a humbling one. It was not a way to seek the spotlight, or grasp for power. John was honored to baptize the Messiah, the One who had been prophesied for thousands of years.
Now, anytime Jesus is involved, He should be the focus. Jesus’ baptism was one of the first moments that would prepare Him to step into His earthly ministry. The baptism highlights Jesus’ humanity. Jesus set the practice in place for all future followers, and He did it as a human being. One other was involved in this process: Jesus’ heavenly Father.
In Matthew’s eyewitness account of this incredible baptism, he wrote that as Jesus was baptized Heaven opened up and, “a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:17). This is a sweet sentence for a father to say to his son, but this sentence is far more important than we may realize. God spoke these words over His son to remind Jesus of His identity. It is easy to think that Jesus would not need to be reminded of who He is, but Jesus is fully human.
Think of all the times Jesus met people who would say to Him something along the lines of, “You are no Messiah! You are lying! Who do you think you are?” If Jesus is fully human, what makes us believe He did not struggle with His identity? God is a loving and kind Father who wanted His Son to always remember that He is the Son of God, and God is pleased with Him.
The same is true for you. The same words that God spoke over Jesus, are the same words God speaks over you. You are God’s child, and He is SO pleased with you. God is proud of you. God loves you. God likes you. God is for you. Your identity is only safe and secure when you are living as God’s child. It was God’s words to Jesus that helped prepare Him for His work on earth, and the same is true for us.
There is nothing you can do that would ever make God love you more, and there is nothing you can do that would ever make God love you less. You are perfectly loved by God. When the world tries to get you to question who you are, let God’s words pierce through your heart, “You are my beloved child, with whom I am well pleased.”
REFLECTION
Who are you letting speak into your identity? Let God’s words about you pierce through every other voice and guide you.
PRAYER
Father, thank you for being a perfect and loving Father. There is no one like You in any way. Your words about me define me and help me stay grounded in who I am. When the world is trying to trip me up and change how I view myself, may I recall Your words. I am Your child, and You are pleased with me. Help me to live that out. Give me the chance to tell others of the words You speak over them. I love You Father, and pray all of this in Your holy name, Amen.
Port City writer Davy Nance wrote today’s devotional.
