God loves us

Matthew 3:13-17 (NLT)
13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”

15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. 16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

John the Baptist was a relative of Jesus. When their mothers, both pregnant, saw each other it was said John moved in is mother’s womb with joy. Separated by years John became a prophet proclaiming the coming of The Messiah. Here we find Jesus asking to be baptized by John. Baptism was the foretelling of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus as He was emerged beneath the water and raised to fullness in life. They God’s spirit came down upon Jesus and voice from heaven declared, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

 

 

God dearly loved His son Jesus who brought Him great joy. Most of us love our children that we would do anything for them. We would protect them, we would shelter them and we would ensure they were safe. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Now remember God loves Jesus dearly, yet God planned for Jesus to die as a sacrifice for our sin. God was willing to let Jesus die a suffering death to save us who are in the world from sin. Now what does that say about God’s love for us? God’s love and desire for a relationship with us is as strong as his love for Jesus. God loves us so much he was willing to let go of the son who brought him great joy so that God could save us from sin and give us eternal life with Him in heaven.

There is no question God in heaven loves us dearly. God wants to have a loving relationship with us. God wants us to draw close to him so he can draw close to us and spent time with us. Jude 1:20-23 says, “20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Stay close to God and God will stay close to you for God loves you as deeply as God loved Jesus.