The Son of God
The Son of God
Read Matthew 3:11-17
Then Jesus arrived at the Jordan from Galilee, and came to John to be baptized by him. John tried to stop him. ‘I ought to be baptized by you,’ he said, ‘And are you going to come to me?’ ‘This is the way it’s got to be right now,’ said Jesus. ‘This is the right way for us to complete God’s whole saving plan.’ So John consented, and Jesus was baptized. All at once, as he came up out of the water, suddenly the heavens were opened, and he saw God’s spirit coming down like a dove and landing on him. Then there came a voice out of the heavens. ‘This is my son, my beloved one,’ said the voice. ‘I am delighted with him.’
Reflect
Pause here to take a deep breath and observe your body. If you feel any tension, stop and take note of it – Let’s remember that God gave us physical bodies, so being attuned to them is an important way we connect with our real feelings – which can always lead us to communion with God. God breathed life into our physicality so let us remember to invite him into our lives, our bodies, and our consciousness. *breathe*
Let’s wonder:
- I wonder who else was there to witness this moment between John and Jesus… I wonder who else saw the heavens open, the dove landing, and heard what the voice from heaven said?
- I wonder if anything felt different inside Jesus before he went into the water, and after he came out of it…. Do I remember what it felt like to be baptized?
- I wonder if I have ever heard God say to me ‘I’m delighted with you. You’re my beloved one.” Can I remember a moment like that and hold it with God for a second? Can I talk with him about how that made me feel?
Read Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the spirit to be tested by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and at the end of it was famished. Then the tempter approached him. ‘If you really are God’s son,’ he said, ‘tell these stones to become bread!’
‘The Bible says,’ replied Jesus, ‘ that people don’t live only on bread. We live on every word that comes from God’s mouth.’
Then the devil took him off to the holy city, and stood him on a pinnacle of the Temple.
‘If you really are God’s son,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down. The Bible does say, after all, that
God will command his angels to look after you and they will carry you in their hands, so that you won’t hurt your foot against a stone.’
‘But the Bible also says,’ replied Jesus, ‘that you mustn’t make the Lord your God prove himself!’
Then the devil took him off again, this time to a very high mountain. There he showed him all the magnificent kingdoms of the world. ‘I’ll give the whole lot to you,’ he said, ‘if you will fall down and worship me.’ ‘Get out of it, satan!’ replied Jesus. ‘The Bible says, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone!”’ Then the devil left him, and the angels came and looked after him.
Let’s wonder:
- Have I ever felt what it feels like to go without food for a period of time? Can I remember how it affected me?
- I wonder how Jesus was feeling after being alone for that long without nourishment?
- I wonder what it felt like for Jesus, who fully understood his identity in God the Father, to receive the full force of someone’s doubt?
- I wonder how strongly Jesus could remember God saying “this is my son, my beloved one – I am delighted with him” after all those days without food…. And with the temptation from the devil at full force?
- What else do you wonder?