And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”(Mk. 1:11)
Jesus heard today’s words while being baptized. They reminded Him of who He was— God’s Beloved Son; and they reminded Him of how God felt about Him — well pleased.
These words must have given Jesus great strength when He faced Satan’s temptations in the wilderness. They must have also have given Him great power as He began His ministry. Trusting that He was God’s beloved Son and that God delighted in Him, He could face every challenge, resist every temptation, master every fear, and confront every adversity.
What Jesus heard on that day He came to share with us. Jesus wants us to know that we are God’s beloved daughter or son. Jesus also wants us to know that God is well pleased with us. Although God may not be pleased with everything we say or do, God always delights in us.
When I remember my identity as God’s child and trust God is pleased with me, I gain the strength and power and focus to be who I’m meant to be and to do what I’m called to do. When I forget who I am, I wander around like an aimless orphan. When I forget God delights in me, I fall into berating myself over my mistakes and failures. When I remember God is pleased with me because I’m His and because I’m alive, I want to live a stronger and more courageous life.
How much would your life change if you always remembered that you are God’s beloved child and that God absolutely delights in you? How foolish we are when we feel all alone in the world when we’re actually God’s children! How misguided we are to despise ourselves when God delights in us!
Let me say it again: The words that were given to Jesus while being baptized encouraged Him. The words Jesus heard on that day, He proclaims to us. Let’s listen together and be encouraged to be who we are meant to be and do what we are called to do.
Reflection Questions:
- How would your life change if you always remembered that you are God’s beloved and delighted in child?
- Some people have a hard time believing that God loves and delights in them because they have heard a different message from others. If I’m speaking to you, who are you going to believe? Jesus who brings the truth, or others who didn’t?
- I have an exercise for you if you have a hard time with today’s message. Pray this line: “[Here insert your name], you are my [son, daughter], the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Pray this prayer until it melts your defenses, until it drowns out the other messages you have been given, until you can believe it, trust it, rest in it, and be changed by it.