Twice in the last month I've read the account of Jesus Baptism, and both times I was struck by something:
In Mark 1 verse 10 its says that Heaven was "torn" open.
That word torn is such a dramatic word, and no doubt the scene itself must have been very dramatic. Can you imagine?
There you are standing along the banks of an ordinary river watching John baptize someone again in an ordinary way when the sky itself gets ripped open!
My mind can imagine all sorts of things when I wonder what the guts of a blue sky look like. In any case those painted pictures from church of clouds and sunbeams coming down just don't seem to do the scene justice…
However what really struck me most about this scene wasn't the drama in the sky but the voice amidst the drama. The voice of God. It did not command Jesus to go out and share the gospel! Or tell him to preach on repentance.
Instead God came down on Jesus in all His glory and might to gently tell him the three most important words ever spoken: I love you.
"You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
And that was it.
I'm struck by this because so many times I have been amid some of my own drama from which I've cried out to God and I've gotten the very same response.
Brittnie…I love you.
And at first my response is yeah, yeah, yeah. Your God. You love everyone…but what about a solution to my problem? What are you going to do? When are you going to help me? Will things ever change? God I need you now!
Brittnie…I love you.
I'm not sure how many times he says it before I actually hear it…I supposes its however many times it takes…because when I hear him say my name, and say those words, there is a peace that washes over and calms my heart.
Mark 1 verse 10 goes on to say that when Jesus looked up he also saw the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
Peace.
Do you believe that God would rip the skies open just to tell YOU he loves you? Because He has, and He is. When will you listen?
