You Are My Beloved
God says 'I love you' to Jesus — and to me.
Stories of Jesus · Matthew 3:16–17
God says 'I love you' to Jesus — and to me.
Have you ever heard someone you love tell you that they love you? It feels so warm inside! Today we hear about a special moment when God spoke out loud from heaven. And said something beautiful to Jesus.
Jesus is now a grown man. He goes to the river to be baptized by a man named John.
John leads Jesus into the water. Cool and flowing over their feet.
Then John puts Jesus under the water and brings Him back up.
Water streams off Jesus' face. He takes a breath.
Then something amazing happens.
The sky opens. A dove, white and gentle, floats down from above. It lands on Jesus and then is gone.
And a voice, like thunder and like music at the same time, comes from heaven.
'This is my Son,' the voice says. 'My beloved Son. In whom I am so pleased.'
God the Father is saying to Jesus: You are mine. I love you. I am so proud of you.
Can you put your hand on your chest? Right there is where those words land.
The Father spoke those words over Jesus, His beloved Son. Because of Jesus, we can know that God loves us and welcomes us.
Prayer
Let's pray. Repeat after me:
Dear God,
Thank you that you love Jesus.
Thank you that because of Jesus
I am loved and I belong to you.
We love you!
Amen.
Listen to this devotional with audio narration and illustrations in the Seedling: Bible Stories app — short devotionals for Christian families with children ages 2–5.