And a voice came from the heavens,
“You are my beloved Son;
with You I am well pleased.”
MARK 1:11
Jesus is the beloved Son of God. He came to earth to show us love, healed the sick and raised the dead, fed the hungry with bread. He taught us to forgive and pray, showed us the truth and the way. He died for us on the cross and paid the price for our loss. He rose again on the third day, conquered death and sin, ascended to heaven to prepare a place for us. He is our Savior and our Lord who loves us more than we can know. He invites us to follow Him and grow.
With Jesus, God is well pleased. He is the perfect Lamb of God, the fulfillment of the law and the prophets who came to obey the Father's will. He is the light of the world who revealed the glory of God and manifested the grace of God. He is the King of kings having all authority and power and reigns forever and ever.
Jesus baptizes you with the Holy Spirit. He gives you a new birth and a new life. He fills you with power and gifts and enables you to serve and witness. He cleanses you from sin and guilt, sanctifies you and makes you holy and transforms you and makes you like Him. He comforts you and guides you, teaches you and reminds you. He leads you and directs you because His most Holy Spirit resides in you.
This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:7-11)
God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He is the source of all life, and the only way to God. He is the Word of God, and the image of God, the Alpha and Omega, and the Lord of all. He is the gift of God, and the expression of God's love. He is the Lamb of God, and the sacrifice for our sins, the risen Lord, and the giver of hope. Jesus is the vine of life, and the sustainer of our faith, the bread of life, and the nourisher of our souls, the living water, and the quencher of our thirst.
Believe in Jesus, He is the Savior, the Son of God and the Son of Man. He is the Messiah and the Lord, the Christ and the King. He is the way, the truth and the life, the door and the shepherd, the gate and the vine. In Jesus, you are a victor of the world. He has overcome the world and its troubles, defeated the enemy and his schemes, triumphed over death and the grave. He has given you the victory and the crown, shared with you his authority and his glory and made you more than a conqueror.
Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and Blood. The Spirit is the one who testifies, and the Spirit is truth. So there are three that testify, the Spirit, the water, and the Blood, and the three are of one accord. If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is surely greater.Now the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf of his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:5-13)
Glorify the Lord, He is worthy of praise. He is the creator and the ruler of all, the holy and the righteous one, the majestic and the awesome one. Glorify the Lord, He is gracious and merciful. He is the redeemer and the healer of all, the faithful and the loving one, the compassionate and the forgiving one. Glorify the Lord, He is powerful and mighty. He is the deliverer and the protector of all, the sovereign and the victorious one, the wonderful and the marvelous one.
Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion. For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed your children within you. He has granted peace in your borders; with the best of wheat he fills you. He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word! He has proclaimed his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. He has not done thus for any other nation; his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia. (147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20)
Lord Jesus, I receive Your Most Holy Spirit. I open my heart and my life to You, surrendering to Your will and Your plan as I desire to know You and love You more. Thank You so much for Your grace and Your mercy, Your salvation and Your healing. I humbly ask You to fill me with Your power and Your gifts. I seek You to guide me with Your wisdom and Your truth. I follow You to serve You with Your love and Your joy and worship You for Your glory and Your majesty. Amen.
Pericope:
I: The Preparation for the Public Ministry of Jesus
THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Mark 1:7-11
III: Love for One Another
FAITH IS VICTORY OVER THE WORLD / PRAYER FOR SINNERS
1 John 5:1-12 / 13-21
Fifth Book of Psalms 107-150
GOD'S WORD RESTORES JERUSALEM
Psalm 147:1-20
Reflection Source:
Copilot with Bing Chat
