Well-pleased!

Dear Church Family,

In the sermon on Christmas Eve, we considered Jesus’ Person from Luke 3:21-22 – specifically, how in His baptism, it is revealed that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. We saw how the declaration which God the Father speaks from heaven to Jesus at His baptism – “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased” – is a unique statement concerning the intimate relationship between God the Father and God the Son.

At the same time, by way of application, because the “covenant of grace was made with Christ as the second Adam, and in him with all the elect as his seed” (WLC 31), God the Father’s declaration to God the Son may rightly be applied to all those who are in Christ, as well. All those who have faith in Christ Jesus are sons of God (Galatians 3:26); therefore, if you are in Christ, then God is well-pleased with you!

A Greek Word and a Poem

The Greek word that is translated ‘well-pleased’ is (eudokeo) and it simply means “to be pleased; take delight or pleasure in; choose, will, resolve; be content.” In our English translations, the word is translated in several different ways: well-pleased, good pleasure, content, chosen gladly, took pleasure.

On the back of the Christmas Eve Service bulletin contained a poem that I had written based on several passages in the New Testament that use this Greek word; I’ve included that poem below. Eash of the five stanzas of the poem begins with a Scripture reference in parentheses which is the basis for that stanza. I recommend reading each Scripture passage referenced before reading the stanza; it will make more sense that way, I think.

As we close one year and ring in the new, I hope that you find hope and comfort in knowing that because who Christ is and what He has done, if you belong to Him, then God is well-pleased with you!

Well-pleased
by Peter M. Dietsch

(Luke 3:21-22)
“You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”
Your covenant was kept, Your Law appeased.
In the waters of baptism, and the descent of a dove,
Our Father, in heaven, revealed was Your love.

(Luke 12:31-34)
Our needs, our wants, in our lives erupting,
As we seek Your kingdom, in the world irrupting.
Well-pleased, you chose to bring Your reign,
Our treasure and our hearts are joined therein.

(1 Corinthians 10:1-6)
You were not always well-pleased in days gone by,
Your people craved evil, in the wilderness they did die.
 rock of Christ quenched their thirst, He fed their souls,
These were examples for us, to pull us from our lows.

(1 Corinthians 1:20-29)
Yet, Your grace carried forth, Your pleasure was not consumed,
The foolishness of the world, under Your wisdom was subsumed.
Stumbling blocks and foolishness, You brought to Jew, to Greek,
Christ-crucified was preached, saving the chosen, the weak.

(2 Thessalonians 2:11-12; Colossians 1:18-20)
Lead us not into temptation, Your deluding spirits dispel.
Unpleased with our wickedness, we cling to Your gospel.
Incarnate fullness and blood-bought peace in Christ did dwell,
Firstborn from death, His body, the church, He saved from hell.

The Lord be with you!
– Pastor Peter M. Dietsch