After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened Luke 3:21 NABRE
Luke writes about John the Baptist, his preaching and his response to the question – is he the Messiah, declaring he is not worthy to undo the sandals of the one coming, the Messiah. We learn John the Baptist is speaking about his cousin Jesus. Luke writes everyone has been baptized including Jesus, who lives fully in solidarity with people, asking to be baptized and committing His life to repentance as all baptized commit. After His baptism Jesus steps off to pray and while praying the heavens open and a voice affirms Jesus while the Holy Spirit is descending upon Him. Jesus is affirmed by the voice of His Father who proclaims, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” We should listen to this voice as God speaks the same words of affirmation to each of us. God loves us with an everlasting love, (see Jeremiah 31:3.)
When we are loved by God we are always pleasing. Jesus hears God who is pleased with Him though He has not attempted anything toward His mission, He has lived privately to this point. His public ministry begins at this baptism with the knowledge He is loved by God. Following this moment Jesus goes off alone where the evil one will try to challenge the validity of this affirmation. Like Jesus we don’t have to do anything to be the beloved of God, we are special as God’s creation, loved as a child of God. God speaks blessing, affirmation, love and desiring we live a life of peace. We should imagine every day God speaking words of life to us. The world may try to bring us down, but recognize the world does not love us. God loves you; trust God, be affirmed in love and live confident in this affirmation.
Do you trust God’s affirmation? Do you live as a beloved child of God?
We should imagine every day God speaking words of life to us. The world may try to bring us down, but recognize the world does not love us. God loves you; trust God, be affirmed in love and live confident in this affirmation. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #beloved #affirmed #Luke #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #gospels #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways