St. Matthew 3: 1- 17

January 7, 2023

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

“…in whom I am well pleased.” We are taught from childhood that God is three personalities yet one entity – three in one. God was not congratulating Himself; the Father, with the love of a father, is acknowledging His beloved Son in a very public, open manner, as an earthly king might do. The Father is not human but fully divine and He is moved by the actions of His Son, Who, in His humanity and divinity, does the will of the Father in all things.

We, of course, will never hear those words from the Father but because of the sacrifice of his Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, through Jesus we might one day hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt 25:23)

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