He heard it a million times from his mom; son of God, born of a virgin. When he was younger, he did not really know what all those words meant. Everyone was nice to him and he had a special place when they went to temple. He remembered the old men looking at him with tears in their eyes, and the widows would touch his little shoulder when he walked by. They told him that he was born of the Spirit, and there was much he would do in his lifetime. When he was little, he tried to imagine what it was he would get to do.
And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon Him.
(Luke 2:40)
He read it a million times in the Scriptures. It is written, “You are my son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession” (Psalm 2:6-8). “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore” (Isaiah 9:6-7). Wisdom about the deep things of God, his Father, were remembered from the beginning of all time. The Word once spoke from creation, and now heard through the prophets, kept his heart and mind focused on the will of the Father in Heaven.
He wondered a million things as he grew up in the fear of the Lord. He was son of the Most-High, but why did he ache with sadness? He was able to heal and make things new, but would there ever be an end to this need for restoration? He spoke with the authority of the everlasting Word of God, but why would people not recognize his voice? He was driven to lead God’s beloved creation through repentance to everlasting trust, but why do they refuse to listen?
Jesus must have expected more out of this creation. But as he inhaled the atmosphere, the wise and holy Son of God learned to be incredibly disappointed. Fulfillment and meaning lay right in front of the servants of God, yet they turned away from young Jesus. Healing and wisdom called directly into the ears of the chosen nation, yet they raged against his holy name. Day by day, Jesus increased in the wisdom and understanding of what it felt like to be the Christ, the Messiah, the only Hope. Day by day he grew to understand what it must take to save such an undeserving hoard of unbelievers.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented.’
(Matthew 3:13-15)
It emerged from the unfathomable, what he must do. His righteousness, his wisdom, his healing, his sonship, it was all for them. It was to be given to this wicked and unloving generation. Even the repentance they continually failed to do, even now at John’s passionate call, this also was the responsibility of this righteous Son. Jesus began to understand his long-promised Kingdom, but now in reference to those who would reside within the gates. Here in the Jordan, Jesus was coronated with the gritty black mud of his unmerited repentance, the weight of the ignorant nations.
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)
Jesus seemed to know some of this from the beginning. He was the Son with whom God was well pleased. He was sent to do the work of his Father, and he would do it well. But the pleasing work of the Father turned out to be a little darker than Jesus might have imagined. Repentance for the death-bound world felt thick and heavy as he climbed out of the river that day.
The worst of it was, finally, Jesus witnessed the eyes of the people whom he came to save. They had no idea. The adulterous, guilty generation blindly believed their own baptism of regret was enough. They wanted to fulfill the Law and do it right, but John’s washing with water could only highlight their sin. So, they abandoned the water, trying to sacrifice and clean up their life to please the Father in Heaven. They were just awakened to their sin, only to find out they were already dead. Yet, trusting in their repentance and their attempt at reconciliation, these poor miserable sinners unknowingly heaped sin upon sin. They were trusting the Law to bring life, trusting in themselves, trusting in their own unreliable savior.
Unbelief, misunderstanding, selfishness, unrighteousness, these were the brothers and sisters that Jesus attached to himself, in the Jordan. Pain, sorrow, disgust, separation, these were the riches Jesus inherited on this earth. His journey of deep wisdom and pure understanding ultimately exposed the bowels of rotting humans. And while we were still sinners, Jesus died for the ungodly.
This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.
Cindy Koch 