My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased
We would like tonight to make our meditation on a beautiful verse that we have heard from the mouth of God the Father, when He said about the Lord Jesus Christ: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
The Lord Jesus truly was a beloved Son to God the Father—He loved the Father, and the Father loved Him. He did the will of the Father and obeyed Him even to death, the death of the Cross. But the important question is this:
Does each one of us hear from the mouth of God the same words: “You are My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased”?
Many people are called “children of God,” yet they lack the true marks of sonship. They claim the rights of sons without fulfilling the duties of sons!
As God said in the book of Isaiah: “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me” (Isaiah 1:2). We call God “our Father,” yet we do not honor Him as a Father, and we behave in a manner unworthy of the children of God.
We must ask ourselves: Are we truly children of God? And what are the signs that distinguish the children of God?
First: A son resembles his father. We have indeed been created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, it is not fitting for us to act like the Jews who falsely boasted that Abraham was their father, though they did not have the works of Abraham! For if anyone says he is a child of God, “he ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6).
So, do the works that befit the children of God.
Whoever lives in sin is not in the image of God, nor does he show that he is His son. Saint John says in (1 John 3:9–10): “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”
He also says, “Whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him” (1 John 5:18).
Such a one, who cannot sin and whom the evil one cannot touch, hears from the Lord: “You are My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”
The Apostle also says, “Whatever is born of God overcomes the world” (1 John 5:4). This is one of the most prominent signs of the children of God—they are conquerors.
The children of God are the victorious ones, who are led in His triumphal procession.
He says: “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life… I will give him the crown of life… To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna… I will give him a new name… To him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God” (Revelation 2–3).
The victorious children of God have received authority to tread upon all the power of the enemy and to say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Therefore, this struggling Church we later call the triumphant Church.
And God says to each of His victorious children: “You are My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”
“In whom I am well pleased,” because there are sons who are a shame to their fathers and a grief to their mothers—like Esau, who became a bitterness to Isaac and Rebekah; like Absalom, for whom David wept; and like the prodigal son, who left his father’s house, wasted his substance in reckless living, and longed to eat the pods that pigs ate.
Yet God, in His humility and love, still called these lost ones “sons.”
He said, “This my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” He called him a son while he was lost and dead in sin! He even called the rebellious ones sons, saying, “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me.”
But the prodigal son said, “I am no longer worthy to be called Your son.”
“My image does not show sonship, nor does my behavior reveal it. Because of me, people blaspheme Your good name. Yet out of Your humility, You have not taken from me the title of son.”
Another sign of the children of God is what Saint Paul said in Romans 8:14: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
Those who obey the Spirit, surrender to the work of grace, fulfill the will of the Lord on earth as it is in heaven, and obey even unto death—God says to each of them: “You are My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”
The one who is led by the Spirit of God is not led by himself—neither by his desires, nor impulses, nor by the devil, nor by evil companions.
Such a person does not weary God. God says of him, “He is My son; I signal to him from afar, and he follows My direction. Even without a sign, he knows My will and does it. He bears My cross and spreads My kingdom. He is not swayed by every wind, but abides in My love. He is My son, in whom I am well pleased.”
If we are children of God, then let us do His will, for He said, “Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50). Those who are led by the Spirit of God cannot sin, and the evil one does not touch them.
How beautiful it is to be a cause of joy to the Lord!
You can be so through repentance, for He said, “There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.” Yes, heaven rejoices over those who are led by the Spirit of the Lord. But those who do not follow the Spirit, who grieve the Holy Spirit, quench the Spirit, and resist the Spirit—of them it is said, “They are not sons.” About them the Lord says, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me.”
The true son is like a branch abiding in the vine. But whoever separates himself from it withers, is thrown away, and is not pleasing to the Lord.
We do good not only for the sake of our eternity but even more because we love goodness and desire to be a sweet aroma to the Lord.
It was said of the burnt offerings that they were presented as “a sweet aroma to the Lord” (Leviticus 1:17). “And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma” (Genesis 8:21). The Apostle also exhorts us “to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1). Then the Lord will say to each of us: “You are My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”
The children of God who please His heart are also distinguished by love.
Since God is love, His children must also be loving.
The Apostle says, “Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7–8).
The children of God are also distinguished by freedom, for sinners are slaves to sin.
But the children of God, since the Son has set them free, are truly free—no desire, passion, sin, or habit enslaves them.
In freedom they become like God, for He is free, and they live in the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Whoever is born of God is born of water and the Spirit, has received the second birth, the washing of water by the Word. In this new birth, the old man dies, and he is born from baptism in the image and likeness of God, having put on Christ. Thus, he becomes filled with righteousness and holiness, in the image of God. God looks upon him and says, “You are My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”
The one who pleases God also brings joy to the angels—not only in his earthly life but also at his departure. When Lazarus died, the angels carried him. Saint Anthony saw the soul of Saint Amoun ascending among the praises of angels. And when Abba Onuphrius departed, the angels said, “This is a pure soul; come, let us take it and offer it as an offering to God.”
Truly, the only Son in whom the Father was well pleased is our Lord Jesus Christ, for the whole world had fallen into sin.
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The only one who remained holy and blameless is this beloved Son, who represented all humanity in pleasing God the Father.
He is the beloved Son who stood on behalf of us all, presenting the perfect image of humanity that delighted the heart of the Father.
Let us all, then, also please the Father and make His heart rejoice—
He rejoices in our purity, holiness, perfection, and love for Him. He rejoices when we deepen our relationship with Him, open our hearts to Him whenever He knocks, and when we hear His voice, we do not harden our hearts. He rejoices in us as obedient, loving children who glorify their Father in heaven.
If you have not pleased God in the past, the future is before you.
Think of the first day when you can bring joy to God’s heart.
And if you find nothing that pleases Him, confess your weakness before Him and say:
“O Lord, my whole life has been barren years; I have done nothing to please You. Grant me now to begin anew. I have wearied You for so many years; allow me to please You, even for a few moments.”
It is indeed a touching scene to see the Lord Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, which grieved His holy heart, saying:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”
Your will is against Mine. I go one way, and you go another. I seek your salvation, but you do not seek it. Instead, while I redeem your life from the pit, you dig for yourselves broken cisterns every day.
Please Me, even for one day, that I may say to each of you: “You are My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Truly, the only passport that grants entrance into the Kingdom is this divine testimony: “You are My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Without it, you cannot enter. Will anyone say to God, “I had talents, and in Your name I cast out demons”? He will answer, “Truly, I do not know you.” Those talents pleased you, as the disciples rejoiced that the demons were subject to them, but you did not seek what pleases Me! My joy is to find your heart pure as snow, with the Holy Spirit dwelling within, that I may say, “You are My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Imagine if we asked God to dwell among us and point with His finger to His beloved children in whom His heart delights—to whom among us would He point and say, “You are My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased”?
And in that moment, who among us would hide in shame? Yet, my brothers, we can—in a single moment, in the twinkling of an eye—reconcile with God and bring joy to His heart.
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Article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – El-Keraza Magazine, Year 9, Issue 4 (27 January 1978)
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