KCL Chapel
Luke 3:21-23
Spring term Sermon Series
25th January 2017
THIS IS MY SON
If you could ask God one question, what would it be? How about this: “God, how
can I be happy?” We’re all searching for happiness – the ‘blessed life’ – and we
look all over for it.
The news stories lately have all been about leadership – whether it’s Theresa May
leading ‘The Brexodus’ away from the ‘tyricannal’ leadership of the EU – or
Trump v Clinton, and the race for the White House. The newspapers know that
these stories sell papers – because the newspapers know how significant we think
leadership is – what an impact it has on our daily lives. The political leaders
themselves help to fan the flames. President Obama surged to power on a wave of
Messianic expectation. “Yes we can!” The language of the more creative
Brexiteers told a sort of salvation story – we could create the world we all want if
only we could get away from Brussels. We’re looking for a leader, or a
movement, to deliver the happiness we long to find. The truth is, no politician or
movement can possibly fix all that’s gone wrong with the world. None can
guarantee us forgiveness, and peace with God – nor master death – still less
transform this broken world into the world we all long for. None can make us truly
happy.
At Friday’s inauguration, Franklin Graham introduced his prayer for the new
President with the words; “In the Bible, rain is the sign of God’s blessing, and it
started to rain, Mr President, when you came to the platform.” It’s a strange thing
to say – just ask Noah! - but it’s comforting to think that a Leader has God’s
support. The truth is, to fix the deepest problems we face as human beings – to
deliver the truly blessed life - we’ll need to put our trust in a leader far more
powerful than any politician. Luke 3:21-23 tells us – with proof far more
convincing that a rainshower - that such a leader has come.
Our text today is Luke 3:21-23. John the Baptist has been baptising in the Jordan
River, preparing the people for the coming of the LORD. Jesus, too has just been
baptised, when suddenly the Holy Spirit descends from heaven, like a dove – and a
voice booms from above, saying:
“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Who’s speaking? It’s God the Father. This is the Father’s clear endorsement of His
Beloved Son. He wants us to be absolutely clear who Jesus is. The Father is telling
us at the very least here, Jesus is much more than a good teacher to learn from, or a
good example to copy.
People find the exclusivity of the claims of Christianity difficult to swallow. But
Christianity isn’t special because Christians are special. Christianity is special
because Jesus is special. Christianity is exclusively true, because Jesus is uniquely
the Son of God. Were he just another teacher, adding to a sort of spiritual
Wikipedia of religious knowledge, Christianity could be filed alongside all sorts of
other systems of belief. But Jesus isn’t just another teacher. Jesus is the unique Son
of God Himself, in whom the Father delights.
But, God the Father isn’t only introducing a member of His family. He’s endorsing
a Leader. The ‘Son of God’ in the Old Testament was a technical term, meaning
‘King’. Psalm 2 – which the Father refers to with the words ‘This is my Son’ recounts a conversation between God, and His Son, where God promises to His
Son a Universal throne, and warns the rulers of the world that their fate rests in His
hands, and the wise will find refuge in the Son. When a Jew heard a voice from
heaven saying ‘This is my Beloved Son’, they knew this long-promised Universal
King had come, and that if they were wise, they’d find refuge in Him.
Isn’t that something we need to be reminded of particularly today? The political
changes afoot in the world are significant – but they aren’t ultimate. Every political
leader – in fact, every person who has ever lived - will one day bow, willingly or
not, at Jesus’ throne. It his hand on the tiller of human history. We sometimes talk
about being on ‘the right side of history’; If Jesus is the Universal King, to whom
we all must one day bow, then the way to be on the right side of history, is to be on
the right side of Him. By speaking these words from heaven, God is
commissioning Jesus as His Chosen, Universal King.
The second part of God’s heavenly speech also echoes the Old Testament – this
time, the prophet Isaiah. Can you hear the echoes from Isaiah 42:1?
“Behold my servant, whom I uphold – my chosen/beloved, in whom my soul
delights.”
In a series of songs, the mission of this Servant is spelled out. If Jesus the King
would mean power, Jesus the Servant would mean suffering. One of the most
beautiful passages in Scripture, Isaiah 53, describes how God’s Servant will suffer
in place of God’s people:
“…he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon
him was the chastisement that brough us peace, and with his wounds we are
healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his
own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
God knew, the deepest problem in the world – the problem of the human heart in
rebellion against God – couldn’t be fixed by raw power. It could only be fixed by a
loving sacrifice. This Servant-King will identify with God’s people – in life, which
is why He volunteers to be baptised along with them – and then in death, where he
bears the righteous anger of God at human rebellion. So, in that one heavenly
sentence as Jesus is baptised, God is announcing Jesus as His Suffering, Saving
Servant-King.
Human leaders and movements come and go, don’t they. They make all sorts of
grand promises – some they keep, many they can’t. Politics, so the saying goes, is
the art of the possible – but the real problems we face, are impossible for mere
mortals to solve. But they’re not impossible for Jesus.
If we’re wise, we’ll listen carefully to this voice from Heaven – we’ll see in Jesus
the only One who can rescue us from the judgement we deserve – the only One to
offer forgiveness & eternal life – the Only One to lead any who trust him to the
world we all want. The Only One able to deliver lasting happiness.
And what is this happiness Jesus offers to those who trust in Him? It’s the
happiness of waking up every morning knowing we’re fully forgiven and at peace
with God. The happiness of knowing that the One in control of our lives isn’t a
Political Party, but a loving Saviour. The happiness of knowing our future depends
not on world events, but on His death and resurrection.
Jesus is where true happiness is found. In the words of the final sentence of Psalm
2: “Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.” Amen.
Simon Pethick,
Assistant Minister Duke Street Church, Richmond