1 John 4:18 AS HE IS SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD. (NKJV)
Jesus came into this world to accomplish numerous things, one of which was to be our representative before God; remember that Jesus was not only the Son of God, He was also the Son of man.
Rom 1:3,4 Regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God. (NIV)
I want to show through this Blog that as Jesus is before the Father as a man – so are we!
When Jesus rose up out of the river Jordan, the Holy Spirit came upon Him and and the Father’s voice boomed from heaven, ‘This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17. KJV)
Why did the Father speak audibly at this time:
1) The Father’s Declaration: When the Father spoke these words, He was bragging on His Son, He was telling the world how proud He was of His son. He especially wanted the Pharisees and Sadducees to hear His voice (Mt 3:5,7).
WHY! Because later they would attack Jesus for calling Himself the Son of God and accuse Him of blasphemy saying He was making Himself equal with God, but now they were hearing it from the Father’s own lips.
There were thousands of people milling around on the banks of the Jordan river that day who also heard the Father’s proud voice boom fron heaven.
He was also affirming His Son before the people. He wanted everyone to know that He had chosen Him and given power and authority to Him to bring in the kingdom of God.
2) Character Before Works: Before Jesus did any preaching or teaching, performed miracles, cast out demons or healed the sick, the Father spoke two things over Him:
a) “You are my beloved Son”. He was declaring to Him that He loved Him for who He was, not for what He could do. He was establishing Jesus’ identity as His Son by declaring His unconditional love for Him.
When a child knows it is unconditionally loved, it establishes in them identity and a security and stability that enables them to overcome the challenges of life. It was the knowledge of the Father’s love that enabled Jesus to overcome the many attacks on His identity and calling and took Him all the way to the cross where He overcame death and the grave and rose victorious.
b) “In whom I am well pleased”. The Father was declaring to His Son that He was pleased with Him for who He was not for what He coulddo. He was saying to His Son that He didn’t have to perform in order to please Him, He didn’t have to fulfill any conditions, He loved Him for who He was!
Jesus was so grateful and thankful to the Father for His unconditional love and pleasure, that it would cause Him to say, “I do always those things that please Him” (Jn 8:29 KJV).
If we read these words with a law mind set we will think that Jesus is obeying the Father in order to receive His love and pleasure. The reverse is true. Jesus is so grateful for the Father’s love and pleasure that He wants to do those things that please the Father, not because He has to do those things that please the Father. This is grace!
In our next Blog we will look at how these same words of the Father apply to all Christians.
Meditation Point: Father, I invite you to work in me the desire to please You, because I want to, not because I have to!
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