This Is My Beloved Son: Hear Him
Notes and Disclaimer:This is a dramatization of the recorded times in holy writ that God the Father speaks from heaven with this testimony concerning Jesus Christ: "This is my Beloved Son: Hear Him." Please remember that some artistic license has been taken and I encourage you to look up the references to these accounts. For those without access to the scriptures listed, they can be read online at "scriptures,lds,org" (substitute the commas for periods in the web address). I also do not own anything. The Scriptures are from God.
The Baptism
The sun shone brightly on the waters of the Jordan, just as they had for hundreds of years. But today seemed to be special, for there stood a figure near the bank preaching to a large multitude of people. From his perch atop a stone wall, the man known as John the Baptist expounded on the coming of the Messiah.
"There is one among you that you don't know," he said. "You call me a prophet, but I am not worthy to carry the shoes of the one who comes after me. He is the one that you should follow. Yes, I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with fire and the Holy Ghost."
The people were deeply moved at this. John made as though to continue his talk, but upon glancing beyond the crowd, his breath caught in his throat. There was a man approaching the throng dressed in a simple yet well kept white robe tied at the waist with a red sash. To the mortal eye, he looked to be an ordinary Jew of humble birth. With the build of a carpenter and the garb of a commoner, there was nothing in his physical features that would set him apart from a crowd. However, he carried himself with a royal air and there stood in his eye a resolution and sincerity that pierced the heart. But the most telling thing that resonated with John was the calm yet powerful presence the man bore with him. John could feel more than see that this was no ordinary man. The prompting of the Spirit confirmed it.
"Behold!" he called, "The Lamb of God, who will take away the sins of the world."
The crowd all turned towards the newcomer as John leapt from the wall and ran to meet his now grown second cousin, the man the world then knew as Jesus of Nazareth.
They embraced each other as if they were old friends, for indeed they were; they were men with a common mission to further the work of God. Their roles in that work were very different, but neither would fully complete his task without the other.
"You've come at last Lord," John said with tears standing in his eyes.
"Yes John, the time is at hand," Jesus replied. "The time has come for my work to begin. Come my friend and baptize me."
John was taken aback at this.
"Master I…," John didn't know what to say. "Lord, I wouldn't think of it. You are holy; A sinless man. Such a one has no need of the remission of sins. You should baptize me."
Jesus smiled.
"No John, you must baptize me. You have the authority to do so. And besides, you know that baptism is not only for the remission of sins. It is also a covenant of obedience. The laws of The Father require all to be baptized in order to enter into His kingdom. I am no exception. In obeying all of God's commandments, we will fulfill all righteousness. Do you understand?" The Lord asked.
John nodded his head. "Yes Master, I do. I suppose I always have at that. Come then and I will baptize you."
The stunned multitude made way as the Baptist led Jesus down into the waist deep river. The ordinance was simple yet profound. Calling Jesus by name, John said the prayer of baptism and then buried the Master in the water, swiftly bringing back up again. Dripping from head to foot, Jesus came up onto the bank with John following behind him. And there he stood, looking up into heaven. A faint yet profound glory seemed to fall upon him, almost as a dove settles on a tree.
Then a sound was heard. To some in the multitude, it was a faint but unreadable murmur. To others it was a faint whisper. To a select few it was a still small voice in the mind. But to The Lord and to the Baptist it was more than that. It was the very voice of God uttering these words from heaven:
"This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him."
References: The Holy Bible (King James Version); Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3:21-22, John 1:29-34
More Chapters are forthcoming. Please review.