The Big Picture
And suddenly a voice came from heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
At this point, Jesus has not preached a sermon or performed a miracle. Yet, the Father makes this declaration. Ever wondered why? Twice later (John 12:28 and Luke 9:35), that voice will be heard from heaven affirming the Son. The answer to this question reveals the big picture, the grand scheme of things.
Today’s movies come in series broken down into Seasons and Episodes. It may help to view the Bible that way. Season One is Eternity Past, Season Two is the Present, and Season Three is Future Eternity. Episodes in the current season began with Creation, The Garden, The Fall, Israel, The Word Made Flesh, The Church Born, The Time of The Gentiles, and will probably end with The Rapture! Episode 1 in the next season will probably be The Marriage Supper, The Millennium and The White Throne Judgment, The New Heaven and Earth, and The New Jerusalem, with its glorious throne! Christ will sit on that throne with His Father! He will rule the nations from there!
Movies have previews where you can see a scene in the future or what you’ll see in the movie. God lifts the curtain sometimes or fast forwards the movie to show us something in the future…that’s what the prophets did. BUT you can also rewind the tape to see previous scenes. Why this feature? To understand characters in a movie, you dare not miss a season or an episode! I fear most of us have missed too many episodes in this story!
Back to the voice. Season One is concealed. The episodes in this season are spread all over the Bible and are easy to miss. I suggest a few titles: Before the World Began (John 17:5), The Father and The Son (John 1:1), and The Creation of Angels, The Fall of Lucifer (Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28.) To answer our question on the voice, let’s take a scene from the episode of Colossians 1. Something Jesus did back there pleased the Father so much (Proverbs 8) that He gained the number one spot in the Father’s heart! (I’m speaking as a man. Jesus was always this). The Father got so excited He bestowed all honor and glory to Jesus! (Colossians 1). This glory had to be seen and shared. Enter the angels. But then there’s a rebellion. The Creation Plan kicks into action. The Father wants more sons like this One! He will create a Bride for Him. He will build a Temple for The Holy Spirit! Season Two is preparation for this grand plan! Season Three is where it is fulfilled!
The Father is intent on the Son receiving all the glory. The Son is intent on sharing this glory with us (John 17:20-26; 2 Corinthians 3:18; and 1 John 3:1-3). Jesus shall reign where the sun makes its successive journeys! We shall share His glory! It was determined in Season One. We have a preview of the final episodes in the book of Revelation!
When we feel discouraged by the trials we are going through, fast forward the movie and get a preview of what’s to come in future episodes! Jesus wins! He is the beloved Son, and that won’t change right to the end of the movie! This is the big picture. Hallelujah!