The Joyful Father
After his baptism, as Jesus was coming up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.' Matthew 3:16-17
The older you get, the more sentimental you become. The other day, I picked up my daughter from work. As she was chatting with one of her friends, she began to talk about how she was with her dad. She asked me to say "Hi" to her friend, which I obliged, and then, internally, I paused. The way she spoke about me so glowingly brought this warm sense of joy, and it was special considering many of the struggles we had been through.
You see, we adopted her at a very young age, and there were times where my wife and I were interchangeable to her. Arguments such as "You are not my dad," were mentioned, albeit very rarely. As such, things were quite contentious with her growing up. Now having turned 21, the realization of what we have done over the years has seemingly kicked in. She has shown more gratitude when we help her, and she talks to us rather than pushing us away.
This had me wonder about how God viewed me when I was baptized. It was quite a challenge getting me to that point, and when I did so, I felt so much joy in that moment that I still do not fully understand it, other than to say I was profoundly proud.
Many of us can relate to that kind of complicated love. We carried the weight of our past into the waters of baptism, knowing the full inventory of our failures, our doubts, and our rebellions. We wonder, quietly, whether God sees us the way a weary parent sees a prodigal child, tolerated more than celebrated. If you have ever stood on the edge of a faith decision and thought, "Does this even matter to God?" You are in good company. Many of us felt the weight of our unworthiness versus His welcome, and some of us even have thoughts about it to this very day. Thus, the baptism of Jesus takes on much greater meaning in this context.
Jesus’ baptism is a moment for all of us to embrace. It is noteworthy that God did not wait until Jesus had performed a miracle. He did not hold His approval until Jesus had endured the cross. At the very beginning of Jesus' public ministry, before a single sermon was preached or a single life was changed, the Father spoke over Him with delight. "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy."
That is the sound of a Father who is not merely satisfied but deeply moved.
Think about it for a minute. Jesus stepped into the Jordan River not because He needed cleansing, but to stand in full solidarity with humanity. He entered the water as one of us, and the Father's response was not silence or measured approval. It was open, public, and an overflowing affirmation.
This speaks to something more than just his sovereignty. His delight in His children does not require a perfect track record. My daughter did not earn my pride that day in the parking lot. She simply was, and how she spoke of me revealed how she now sees our relationship. Something had shifted in her heart, and that shift was enough for mine to overflow.
In the same way, baptism is not the moment we prove ourselves to God. It is the moment we step into the water and say, "I am Yours." And the Father, who sees not the sum of our failures but the future He has written for us, responds with the same word He spoke over His Son: beloved.
Paul understood this deeply. In Romans 8:15 (NLT), he writes, "So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him "Abba, Father." The word Abba is the same intimate word a child uses for a father they trust. Paul is saying that the very same adoption that defines the Son's relationship with the Father is now available to us. The same voice that said "This is my dearly loved Son" now speaks over all who step into the water to profess their belief in their new life. It is not a distant approval. It is a Father leaning in, moved by love.
Our declaration of faith to God is indeed a monumental moment. If you have already been baptized, take time to revisit that moment. If you have a photo, a journal entry, or simply a memory, sit with it. Ask yourself: Do I live like someone over whom the Father spoke delight? If not, what lie have you believed about your standing before Him, and what truth from Matthew 3:17 can you choose to hold instead? If you have not yet been baptized and have been wondering whether it matters, let the Father's words over Jesus be your invitation. He is not waiting for you to be perfect. He is waiting for you to simply say yes. Whether baptized or not, let us relish in the moment our savior was revealed to the world as God’s beloved son who had favor.
When you consider how God sees you today, what does your inner picture look more like? Is there someone in your life, perhaps a child, a friend, or someone who has drifted away, who needs to hear that they are still seen, still valued, and still welcome?
My prayer is that every person reading this would hear the Father’s voice above every voice that has told them they are not enough, and that they would walk today as the beloved, adopted, and delight-worthy children they truly are. Amen.