Father Makes It Clear – January 13, 2021

And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Mark 1:11

Father Makes It Clear

A teacher notices that one of the boys in her classroom is particularly good at drawing and takes great pleasure in producing pictures. When she meets his father and talks about the student’s skill, the father, who turns out to be a professional artist, says proudly, “Yep. That’s my son.”

Anyone who took a look at Jesus could see that he was particularly good at living life. He did all the right things, and he refrained from doing all the wrong things. He did not insist on being served. Instead, he served others whenever and wherever he had the chance.

At the time of his baptism, he was too old to be in school anymore, so it was not his teacher making that observation. It was his relative, John, and it was the people gathered on the bank of the Jordan River. When Jesus’ Father confirmed that observation, he said to Jesus for all those people to hear: “You are my Son. With you, I am well pleased.” The Father was pleased that the Son was as holy as the Father.

Jesus’ Father added that he loved his Son. “You are my Son, whom I love.” Later on, however, the Father turned his face away from his Son as his Son hung on the cross. How could a loving father do something like that? He did it because at that moment of crucifixion, his Son was taking the responsibility for the sins of people who did not do all the right things.

We are those people. All of us who are students in the classroom of life can be grateful for what the Son of God did for us. Now the Father calls us his children as well, saying that he loves us and is pleased with us. Get the picture?

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for loving me so much that you sent your only Son to be my perfect Savior. Amen.