MY BELOVED

In these verses Matthew is quoting from Isaiah 42 concerning Jehovah’s evaluation of His servant, Jesus His Son. But our verses reveal a problem. Verse 14 speaks of the religious establishment, the Pharisees, who had a belief in God. Their evaluation of Jesus is recorded: ‘and held a council against him, how they might destroy him’. Thus we have a controversy between God and the religious men who were supposed to represent Him. The religious establishment agreed with God about moral values, but not about the chosen servant whom God says is ‘my beloved’.

As time went on it appeared that religion’s verdict was right. By capital punishment, Jesus was crucified by man. God sent no angels to deliver Him. But, after three days, God made a statement that reverberated around the world and through the corridors of the ages. God raised Jesus from the dead!

It was Peter, at Pentecost, who would now boldly proclaim to Israel; ‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ’, Acts 2. 36. The gospel is not man’s values or charity but, first, agreeing with God about His Son. One cannot be right with God while in disagreement over the Lord Jesus Christ, whom, by resurrection, God has demonstrated as ‘my beloved’. The possessive adjective ‘my’, links God personally with Christ Jesus. Now, if God is well pleased with the Lord Jesus, who are we to think otherwise? By linking ourselves with the Lord Jesus by confession of heart, we link ourselves with God, Rom. 10. 9.

Peter’s epistle further shows the Lord Jesus entering heaven and sitting on the right hand of God, with all authorities subject to Him. The right hand is the highest position of exaltation and authority given by God, 1 Pet. 3. 22; Eph. 1.20-23. In that position Peter refers to the Lord Jesus as God’s elect, the chief cornerstone or foundation; ‘disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious’, 1 Pet 2. 4. He is the foundation of the true church of God and the ‘man’ we trust for the future. The One whom God calls ‘my beloved’.