Anchor My Faith

What the Voice Said

Scripture: Matthew 3:16-17; Luke 3:23

In our previous lesson our days’ journey came to an end just as the voice from heaven was to speak. Now that we are rested up, let us continue to travel along the gospel path and learn what was said and its meaning.

To have the context, let us start reading with verse 16: “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”’ (Matthew 3:16 – 17). The voice is that of the Father of Jesus. Here we have the three persons of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This voice, that was probably heard by all who were present, was the voice of God the Father. It is a voice that will be heard and reported in future lessons. For example, on the mount of transfiguration “[Jesus] was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him”’ (Matthew 17:5). At that time only three disciples, Peter, James and John, were with Jesus and heard the voice. Another example is when Jesus was praying, a voice came from heaven saying: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again” (John 12:28b). This voice confirms that Jesus is the Son of God and that Jesus has a Father in heaven. This voice also was a public declaration that Jesus was the Messiah.

Referring to Jesus as “my beloved Son,” confirms what we studied when we covered John 1:1 – 2; 14, that the Word who became flesh in the person of Jesus, is the Son of God and thus Jesus is equal with God. The term “Son” is also an expression of love of the nearness of his relationship to God. Again and again, Jesus will refer to his Father in heaven, but memories are short and the voice of identification is soon forgotten and the Jewish leaders grow in their anger and hate toward Jesus.

The Father also states that he is well pleased with Jesus. The Son of God was willing and obedient to be sent to earth as a man. From birth to now, his Father has been pleased with the life that Jesus has lived. As Jesus begins his public ministry, he has been identified as the Son of God and has received his Father’s blessing for what lies ahead. “Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli” (Luke 3:23).

We will close this lesson with a brief comment on the Trinity. It is understood to be one God in the form of three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Through our studies we will learn more about each. What helps me understand the trinity is the idea of believers being members of the body of Christ: “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body” (1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV). There are three persons in the one God and there are many members in the one body of Christ the universal Church.

Prayer

Father, you identified Jesus as your Son and with the presents of the Holy Spirit, seen as a dove, we have presented all three persons of the trinity. What an awesome thing it will be to come to see and realize that all believers that make up the body of Christ will become a part of this divine entity. Father, it is impossible to imagine the full meaning of this at this time.