Day 19: Hearing the Voice of the Father
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” - Matthew 3:13-17
Devotional:
I'll never forget watching my daughter's performance at a singing competition. She was so incredibly nervous. Before she went on stage, I whispered, "Just start singing. Once you start the rest will take care of itself. You’ve got this!" She killed it, obviously. Later she told me, "Dad, when I got nervous, I just remembered what you said." Sometimes a parent's words of affirmation become an anchor in moments of uncertainty.
In Jesus' baptism, we witness one of the most profound moments of divine affirmation in Scripture. The Father's voice breaks through the heavens not to give instructions or correction, but simply to express love and pleasure in His Son. This happens before Jesus begins His public ministry, before any miracles or teaching - it's all about identity before activity.
What's striking about this moment is its public nature. While Jesus had surely known His Father's love throughout His life, here God speaks audibly for others to hear. It's as if the Father is saying, "Let there be no doubt about who this is and how I feel about Him." The dove descending, the heavens opening, the voice speaking - all of it creates an unforgettable picture of divine approval.
The Father's words carry three powerful affirmations: identity ("This is my Son"), love ("whom I love"), and approval ("with him I am well pleased"). These same three things are what our hearts most desperately need to hear. And through Christ, we can hear them - we too are God's children, deeply loved, and pleasing to Him not because of what we do, but because of whose we are.
Reflection Questions:
When was the last time you felt God's fatherly affirmation in your life?
How might your life be different if you lived from a place of being God's beloved child rather than trying to earn His approval?
Prayer Prompt: Ask God to help you hear His voice of fatherly affirmation more clearly, and to let your identity as His beloved child shape how you live and serve.