Well Pleased - Mark 1:9-11

"And it came about in those days

that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee,

and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

And immediately coming up out of the water,

He saw the heavens opening,

and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;

and a voice came out of the heavens saying:

'Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased.'

(Mark 1:9-11)

John the Baptist was not only privileged to verbally proclaim the coming of Christ, he was privileged to physically anoint Christ as He entered into His public ministry. John the Baptist was given the honor of baptizing Jesus Christ, the Son of God!


So, here in these verses we have the account of the baptism of Christ.

Much could be said.
Much could be debated.
I'm not into all of that at the moment.
For now I'm simply looking for Jesus in the various sections of this gospel account and the thing about my Savior which most attaches itself to my head and to my heart this day springs forth from the Father's words about the Son.


A voice from the heavens speaks and it says: "Thou art my beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased."


There is a LOT of good news about Jesus packed in those eleven words - good news for struggling sinners like you and like me!

We are here told that the Christ who came is much loved by the Father who sent Him. More than that we are told that the Father who sent Him is well pleased with the Son who came.

You know, Jesus came to save sinners. He came into this world because "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)


Think about it friends, the kingly Father is well pleased with the princely Son who left heaven's royal throne room for a stinky cattle stall. He is pleased with the sinless Son who became sin for us. He is pleased with the eternal Son who died the death that we deserve to die. He is pleased with the omnipotent Son who did indeed crush Satan's head through His resurrection and has opened the gates of heaven to His much loved sinful siblings!!


The Father has spoken and He has said, "This is My beloved Son, in Him I am well pleased!"


Those words are glorious words, my fellow believers.

"That voice declared the wondrous and ineffable love between Father and Son. Those words announced the Father's acceptance of the Son as the mediator, substitute, and surety of the new covenant. Being 'in Christ' we are accepted in the Beloved and when the holy eye of God looks at us, He is 'well pleased.'"  (Matthew Henry)

Here at the "beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ" as it is recorded by Mark we have a marvelous promise. The Father is well pleased with the Son. It is a promise that should calm our fears when we fail. It is a promise that should drive away our doubts when we despair. It is a promise that should steady our steps when we stumble. God the Father is pleased with Jesus the Son. Christians, you who are saved by the vicarious work of Jesus Christ - and there truly are no other kind- the Father is well pleased with your Savior - and because of that, He is well pleased with you!!


In Christ, we too are His beloved sons and daughters - and in Christ, with us He too is well pleased!


The thought blows my mind!!
Lori