Chosen for the Mission of the Father

Readings: Is 42:1-9; Acts 10:34-43 & Matt 3:13-17

Preacher: Revd Isaac Etuah-Jackson

Text: Mt 3:17 and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Let us look at the theme in two parts

1) Jesus Christ as the chosen one for mission and

2) Jesus Christ as the one we pattern for mission

The description of the Saviour in Isaiah written some 5 centuries before Christ’s birth showed that he did not proclaim himself to be sent by God but chosen by God – Is 42:1 he came to the world to teach both Jews and Gentiles the new law of God which was the love and mercy of God.

Jesus as the son chosen by the Father for His mission had a universal vocation to bring salvation to mankind. God was to reach out to man through this salvation plan which was to all peoples – Jews and Gentiles. Mt 28:19
John the Baptist’s mission was to prepare his fellow Jews for the inauguration of the messiah’s kingdom which they had waited for centuries; by washing them in the waters of the Jordan – an outward sign of their inner repentance and of turning their hearts to God.

Jesus’ baptism by John did not mean that he had any sin to repent of but to fulfil all righteousness; for he had to be baptised and anointed for the mission of the Father. He came to take away the sin of the world. Jn 1:29

The baptism made Jesus’ perfect righteousness to be imputed to his followers because he came to save them.

At the baptism of Christ, the Father spoke from heaven and proclaimed that Christ Jesus was His beloved son and he was pleased with him. At that point the Trinity was present to play their role. The Holy Spirit descended upon him to anoint him as the Messiah. It was a hallowed and memorable occasion where God the Father spoke from the scripture from Psalm 2:7 and Is 42:1 in delighted acknowledgment of his dear son.

Ps 2:7 ¶ I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my son, today I have begotten you.

Isa 42:1 ¶ Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations.

God spoke about Jesus and showed him to the world that this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

But can these words be said about any of us?

Are we an example to our household and work place?

Christ came so that we come to the saving knowledge of God.

The greatest barrier to the spread of the Gospel in the first century was the Jew-Gentile conflict where the Jews claimed to be the chosen ones and we gentiles were not part of God’s Salvation plan. But through Jesus we know that God’s salvation is to all peoples – Jews and gentiles alike as God Himself demonstrated when he asked Peter to take the Gospel to Cornelius, a Gentile.

Our physical situation - our language, culture, prejudices, economic status etc therefore should not be a barrier to the spread of the gospel. We must remember that when one soul is won there is celebration in Heaven.

Today as Christ has been manifested to us we must launch into the deep to give the message of salvation to unbelievers and the unsaved around us.

Jesus as the chosen Messiah of God is calling on us to extend his mission. We are to continue his work till he comes back and we will give account. The salvation messages that we hear every Sunday must be translated into soul-winning and personal growth. We must grow in the area of bible study and obedience to the word.

May God say to us that he us well pleased with us for the way we are ordering our lives.

May Jesus find us worthy to enter into his kingdom when he comes back.