Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, September 12, 2020
Shabbat Shalom *|FNAME|*,
God’s love is paternal by David Harwood
And there came a voice from the heavens: “You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased!” (Mark 1:11 TLV)
Imagine waiting your whole life for the day you would enter your destiny. That’s what Yeshua did. From an early age He was aware of His calling (Luke 2:49). He knew the timing of when His vocation would commence.
Therefore Yeshua said to them, “My time has not yet come. (John 7:6a)
Yeshua knew He was God-Incarnate, the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14, Matthew 26:64). Before He was resurrected He deliberately subjected Himself to living in a fallen cosmos within the context of a corrupted religious culture that was conquered by cruel idolators.
The Messiah knew that the wickedness of this world system was enhanced by deliberately hateful, malevolent, powerful, strategic, spiritual beings. Yeshua was acutely aware of the evil atmosphere in which He shined like light in the deep gloom. He said of Himself:
“Now this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world and men loved the darkness instead of the light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed. 21 But whoever practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be made known that his deeds have been accomplished in God.” (John 3:19–21 TLV)
“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5 TLV)
“As light I have come into the world, so that everyone who trusts in Me should not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46 TLV)
He arrived at the Jordan with a purpose. The Messiah was determined to do His Father’s will and ultimately overthrow the wicked regimes found in the heavens and the earth. He came to reveal the Father and liberate Israel and the nations.
Ben-Elohim appeared for this purpose—to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8b TLV)
The entire span of His life was consecrated to His Father and His Father’s purpose. Having maintained His innocent, trusting love to God, and His merciful kindness towards people, the Messiah presented Himself before God and Israel’s repentant remnant. On the banks of the Jordan was the public declaration of His life-long private dedication.
Heaven held its breath and awaited the Father’s response to the obedience of the man who presented Himself as a living sacrifice – the Lamb of God. They didn’t have to wait long. God spoke.
And there came a voice from the heavens: “You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased!” (Mark 1:11 TLV)
When the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob caused His voice to be heard He spoke directly to His Son who was the manifestation of God’s innermost humility. It was revelatory. What was revealed?
The covenanted Creator revealed that He was an eternal Father for He spoke to His eternal Son. He revealed that we can relate to the nature of His love through seeing the love of devoted fathers in every age and culture.
In eternity past, God loved like a father loves. In sacred time God revealed that He was a loving father. He is the Father who loves us now and forever. It is a paternal love.
The clearest expression of this type of love was revealed in His relationship to the Messiah. It took God hiding Himself in the flesh to provide the forever-Father the opportunity to verbally communicate this love.
Yeshua already knew His Father’s love and at the initiation of his public consecration the Father reinforced His Son’s awareness. Father’s words provided the impetus of the Son’s victorious ministry.
This is relevant to our relationship with Yeshua. Please review a paraphrase of John 15:9:
I love you the same way My Father loves Me. Keep that in mind, understand it, and remain in a conscious awareness of My love for you. (today’s interpretation of John 15:9)
Imagine that you are determined to enter your destiny at the Jordan river. Dare you imagine that the Messiah’s voice is receiving and affirming you? I encourage you to present yourself as a living sacrifice and trust the Messiah’s love for you in the same way Yeshua trusted His Father’s love for Him.