Dearly Loved Son

One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli. . . . Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God. Luke 3:21-23, 38

ADAM WAS GOD’S FIRST SON (LUKE 3:38). Adam had the potential to bring his Father great joy, but instead he brought his Father tremendous grief. Adam’s disobedience required his exile from the Garden of Eden and from the presence of God. Then God had another son, the nation of Israel. “I called my son out of Egypt,” Hosea wrote about Israel (11:1). The Lord intended this son, his treasured possession, to live in his holy land in obedience to his law, which was given at Mount Sinai. But the Israelites were disobedient too. And so, just as Adam was exiled from the Garden, Israel was exiled from the Promised Land.

But God was not content for his people to live in alienation from him. So he sent his dearly loved Son, Jesus, who brought him great joy, into the world. And this Son obeyed! But he, too, was exiled —not because of his own disobedience, but because of ours. By taking our sin upon himself, Jesus has made it possible for God to say to us and to our sons and daughters, “You are my [child], whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11, NIV).

We love our children, and our children bring us both joy and sorrow. What matters most is not that our children please us, but that they please their heavenly Father, which happens only as they are joined to Jesus by faith and receive his perfect record of obedience as a gift. We are all born spiritually dead because of the sin of our ancestor Adam. But when we are joined to Jesus by faith, the Father showers on us the same love and approval he showers on his Son, Jesus.

Father, I admit that I am very concerned about ________ living a life that will bring me great joy, a life I can affirm and approve of. But I realize what is most important is that ________ is joined to your dearly loved Son by faith so that ________ is under your smile, granted your welcome, and made acceptable by him.