Scripture Reference: Matthew 3:17
“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Introduction
The phrase “This is My beloved Son” is one of the most profound declarations God ever made in the Scriptures. It was not whispered in secret but spoken openly at the baptism of Jesus for all to hear. It is a divine affirmation of the identity of Jesus Christ and a revelation of God’s heart towards His Son. For every believer, this statement carries eternal weight, as it not only reveals who Jesus is but also gives us a pattern of relationship with the Father.
When God said these words, He was not merely affirming Jesus; He was setting the foundation for our faith. To recognize Jesus as the beloved Son of God is to recognize Him as the Savior, the Lord, and the perfect example of obedience and love.
The Heavenly Confirmation of Jesus’ Identity
At His baptism in the Jordan River, Jesus had done no recorded miracles yet. He had not fed the five thousand, healed the sick, or raised the dead. Yet the Father declared, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
This shows that God’s pleasure in His Son was not based on performance but on identity and relationship. For believers, this truth is powerful. Before we do anything for God, He already loves us because of who we are in Christ.
John 1:34 confirms this revelation: “And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” John the Baptist recognized Him, and heaven confirmed Him. Our faith rests on this unshakable truth—Jesus is not merely a prophet, teacher, or moral leader. He is the beloved Son of God.
The Beloved Son and His Mission
God’s declaration was also a commissioning. The words came at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Heaven was endorsing the mission of the Son to redeem humanity.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The beloved Son was sent not to condemn but to save. His very identity as the Son reveals the depth of God’s love for us. The Father’s delight in His Son translates into grace and salvation for the world. Through the Son, the love of the Father reaches every believer.
The Beloved Son Reveals the Father
Hebrews 1:3 tells us: “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power…”
Jesus, the beloved Son, reveals the Father. To see Him is to see God’s character, nature, and love in action. In John 14:9, Jesus said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.”
This means that the Father’s declaration of love over the Son is not a distant truth but an invitation for us to experience the Father’s love through Him. Believers are called to abide in Christ, the beloved Son, to fully know the Father’s heart.
The Beloved Son in the Mount of Transfiguration
The declaration “This is My beloved Son” was not made once but repeated at another significant moment. On the Mount of Transfiguration, the Father spoke again:
“While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Matthew 17:5)
Here, God not only affirms His Son but commands us to listen to Him. It was a reminder that Jesus’ words carry divine authority. For believers, this is a call to obedience. To be a follower of Jesus means to hear Him, trust His teachings, and live by His Word.
The Beloved Son in Suffering
The beloved Son was not only pleasing to the Father in moments of glory but also in moments of suffering. Isaiah 53:10 says, “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief…”
This does not mean God delighted in His pain, but that through His sacrifice, the divine plan of salvation was fulfilled. The Son’s obedience, even unto death, brought reconciliation between God and man.
Philippians 2:8 states, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
The beloved Son’s suffering shows us the depth of His love and the measure of His obedience. For believers, it is a call to trust God even in trials, knowing that His purposes are higher.
Believers as Sons Through the Beloved Son
The most beautiful aspect of God’s declaration is that through the beloved Son, we also become sons and daughters of God.
Galatians 4:6–7 says, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
By faith in Jesus, believers are brought into the same love that the Father has for His Son. In Christ, we too are beloved. This is why Ephesians 1:6 tells us, “He hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
The Father sees us through the Son, and His love embraces us as His children. This truth gives us confidence, identity, and purpose.
Application for Believers Today
- Rest in God’s Love
Just as the Father delighted in Jesus before He began His ministry, believers must know that God loves us not because of what we do but because of who we are in Christ. - Listen to the Son
At the Mount of Transfiguration, the Father said, “Hear ye Him.” Believers must give priority to the words of Jesus above all voices in this world. - Walk in Obedience
The beloved Son pleased the Father through His obedience. In the same way, our lives should reflect surrender and faithfulness to God’s will. - Endure Trials with Faith
Just as the Son was glorified through suffering, believers should trust God’s purposes in times of hardship. - Live as Sons and Daughters
Our identity is not in the world but in the beloved Son. We are heirs with Him, called to manifest the Father’s love on earth.
Conclusion
The declaration “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” is more than a historical event. It is the eternal testimony of heaven about Jesus Christ. For believers, it is the foundation of faith, the assurance of God’s love, and the invitation to walk as sons and daughters of God.
As we follow the beloved Son, may we rest in the Father’s love, hear His voice, and reflect His glory in our lives. Let us live each day with the assurance that we are accepted in the beloved, chosen, and loved beyond measure.