John the Baptizer prepared the way for Jesus to come. He preached the message of repentance and faith, calling people to leave their quest for personal satisfaction and ideals, to repent of sin and be baptized as they committed to live in a manner pleasing to God. Jesus also came to be baptized, not in confessing sin, but in identifying with us and demonstrating His commitment to follow the Father. John baptized Jesus and immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3.16-17). The Father in heaven was totally, unquestionably pleased with, and perhaps better translated delighted in, His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He delighted in the person of Christ, delighted in Jesus who would be the perfect Lamb sacrificed for the forgiveness of sin; delighted that in Christ the plan for our redemption would be complete, and for many more reasons and those known only to the Father as He had and has full delight in His One and Only Son.
Should not we also be pleased with and delight in Jesus, to have the fullness of our joy in Christ, to rejoice as did the Father in Christ? Absolutely! We should ever delight in Jesus as we reflect upon Him and who He is; as we reflect on His holy character; as we reflect on His life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension; as we reflect on His willing purchase of our redemption with His own shed blood; as we anticipate His coming again to receive us as His own; as we consider the gift of the Holy Spirit, the truth of His Word, and the assurance of all His promises being fulfilled; as we reflect on His love, grace, and mercy. We have these, and so many more reasons to delight in our Lord, countless reasons to reflect upon Jesus our Savior; countless reasons to praise, honor, and glorify His Sovereign and Holy Name.
Delighting in Jesus – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry Burlingame
My Morning Desk 