Patterns

And a voice from heaven said,

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) 

And a voice came from heaven:

“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)

 

        One of the things I have learned in reading novels set in the past is the fact that sons and daughters of a marriageable age were often introduced to the public as adults. This is the source of our word "debutant." I don't know for certain that this custom came from a classical (Greco-Roman) source, but the classical world had a similar custom, in which a young man "became" a son upon his introduction to society as a son. At that point, he gained full rights as a son.

           The visits from the shepherds and wise men told at Christmas time were special invitation announcements. This scene seems to me to be God's first Big Reveal of His Son to the world in general. The pronouncement  brings to mind Genesis 1:4, 1:10, 1:12, 1:18, 1:21, 1:25, 1:31. In those verses, God looks at what He has created and notes that they are "good." He is pleased with them. Now, at long last, He was not just pleased, but well-pleased with His Son. The term translated "well-pleased" is also translated "delighted." It also seems appropriate that this announcement follows the pattern established at the Burning Bush. There, God reveals Himself as "I Am." Here, we move from first Person ("I am") to second Person ("you are") or third person (He/This is.)

       There are other patterns here. 1) When the Jews were brought out of Egypt, they passed through the Red Sea (baptism) and went into the wilderness, ultimately for 40 years. When the Jews entered the promised land, they went through the Jordan. Then they were in a land that they spent years trying to conquer. 2) After Saul was anointed (sprinkle baptism?) as king, he went off with some prophets. "The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person."(I Sam 10:6)  After David was anointed as king, "...from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power." (I Sam 16:13).