It seems self-evident that a father would love his child. There are aberrations to that statement, but in general it’s true (as Christ Himself verified, Mt. 7:9-11). Even unredeemed men enjoy taking their sons to the park to throw the ball and are happily willing to sit down with their elementary-aged daughters for “tea.” And a father will die for his children.
But what of the greatest Father-Son relationship? What does God the Father think of His divine Son, Jesus Christ?
At three events in Christ’s life, the gospel writers note that the Father was “well-pleased” with His Son, Jesus Christ: at His baptism (Mt. 3:17; Mk. 1:11; Lk. 3:22), the healing of the man (on the Sabbath!) with the withered hand (Mt. 12:18), and at His transfiguration (Mt. 17:5).
On at least two occasions, the epistle writers note the same truth: the Father was pleased for all the fullness of deity to dwell in Christ (Col. 1:19), and Peter recounted the events of the transfiguration as an authentication of the message of Christ (2 Pt. 1:17).
What does this word “well-pleased” mean? It has the sense of delight, satisfaction and approval. The Father looked at the Son with full satisfaction and affirmation.
But perhaps the more significant statement was that the Father addressed Jesus as, “My beloved Son.” D. A. Carson notes the importance of this statement:
- These words from heaven link Jesus with the Suffering Servant at the very beginning of his ministry…
- God here refers to Jesus as “my Son”; implicitly the title “Son of God” is introduced and picked up immediately in the next chapter (4:3, 6). Psalm 2 [which is being referenced here] is Davidic: though it was not regarded in the first century as messianic, the link with David recalls other “son” passages where David or his heir is seen as God’s son (e.g., 2 Sam 7:13-14; Ps. 89:26-29).
- Jesus has already been set forth as the true Israel to which actual Israel was pointing and as such God’s Son (see on 2:15); now the heavenly witness confirms the link.
- At the same time the virginal conception suggests a more than titular or functional sonship: in this context there is the hint of an ontological sonship, made most explicit in the Gospel of John.
- Jesus is the ‘beloved’…Son: the term may mean not only affection but also election…
- These things are linked in the one utterance: at the very beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, his Father presented him, in a veiled way, as at once Davidic Messiah, very Son of Cod, representative of the people, and Suffering Servant. Matthew has already introduced all these themes and will develop them further.
The Father is pleased with Jesus Christ. There can be no improvement on His sonship. Since this is true, we also do well to ask, “Am I likewise also satisfied with Christ? Is He my all, my treasure?”
“This is the sum of the whole gospel; it is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that God has declared, by a voice from heaven, that Jesus Christ is his beloved Son, in whom he is well pleased, with which we must by faith cheerfully concur, and say, that he is our beloved Saviour, in whom we are well pleased.” [Matthew Henry]
Words of Grace 