THIS IS MY BELOVED SON
The Angel Gabriel came to Mary and declared that the child she would conceive by the Holy Spirit would be the ‘Son of the Highest’ (Luke 1: 32). On two further occasions God Himself speaks confirming Jesus as His Son: at His Baptism (Matthew 3 : 17), and at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17 : 5). On both occasions God declares ‘This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’.
LOVE AND PRIDE
Can you picture God the Father looking down with His heart bursting with love and pride for His Son? Those of us who are parents can understand that feeling. We can’t wait to tell people how wonderful our kids, or our grandkids are and how proud we are of them. We see beyond their mistakes and imperfections and love them fiercely and unconditionally. This dispels the idea of God as a distant figure. He was completely and utterly besotted with His son, His perfect Son, and totally invested in what Jesus was doing. Isaiah 42 : 1 says of Jesus, this is ‘My Chosen One in whom my soul delights’.
GIVEN THE WORLD
But not only did God the Father love His Son, He loved the world that He sent Him to (John 3: 16). Jesus, the Son, shared the very nature of His Father. He became the expression of the Father’s love for us: love incarnate. As parents we love to give our children what they wish for, especially at Christmas. If we could afford it, we would give our children the world. Funnily enough that was exactly what God the Father gave His Son. ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you. Ask of me and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession’ (Psalm 2 : 7-8). That includes you and me! Because Jesus came willingly and obediently to earth, and humbled Himself to death on the cross, God exalted His Beloved Son to the highest place in heaven and earth. And every knee will bow to His beautiful name (Phil 2 : 8-11).
‘It isn’t the end of the story, though,’ Hywel continued. ‘For the whole time that his son had been away, the father had looked out for him. Every day he would go out and search for him, or stand at the threshold of his property just looking out, watching and hoping for his wayward son to return. He still loved him, and was deeply concerned for him. He desperately wanted him home, despite what he had done. Sitting in his pigsty one day, the boy looked around at his surroundings and realised something – that even the servants in his father’s household lived better than he was living. He was desperately ashamed of what he had done, and wondered if there was any way he could return to his family, even if he could perhaps become a servant. He decided he would return home, and beg his father’s forgiveness, and take his chances. He got himself up out of his self-made pit and headed home.
‘Before he had got anywhere near his old home, he saw a figure come running towards him. Terrified, he thought his father had sent out a guard to beat him off. He fell to his knees sobbing in desperation. But then he realised it was no guard, but his father himself. And he carried no weapon, but instead his face was wreathed with joy. The father ran to his son, grabbed him, stood him to his feet, and then gathered him into his arms and wept on his neck.’
THE HEALING
Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power. Her debut novel ‘The Healing‘ was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021. Joy has also self- published a short novella, ‘The Beloved‘ as both a companion to ‘The Healing‘, and as an easy to read standalone story, which is available to buy on Amazon Kindle.
‘The Pilgrim‘, her second full length novel, was published by Instant Apostle on 22 July 2022
More information on Joy, and her books can be found here www.joymargetts.com