Longing for JoySample

The Story of Joy: Fullness

One of the most profound moments revealing the Trinity is the baptism of Jesus, which also unveils Trinitarian joy. When Jesus, the Son of God, was baptized in the Jordan, the Spirit of God descended upon him like a dove, and God the Father declared, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Yet, “well pleased” is too mild a translation—it’s more like, “You bring me great joy.” Here, the deepest joy of God the Father is fully displayed.

In this moment, God the Father surprises all of creation with an unforeseen kiss in the waters of baptism. The life-giving joy of the Father is at work again. Jesus, the Son of God, in a body of dust, is submerged in the murky waters of the Jordan. As he emerges, the Spirit—who hovered over the old creation—descends upon him, signaling that a new creation has begun. While these waters symbolize forgiveness for us, for Christ they are the waters of new creation—our entry into a new heaven and earth.

The Son of God comes to fight every chaotic, anti-life force in creation: principalities, powers, the devil, sickness, injustice, and even death itself. Armed with the Father’s joy, he faces the disordered realities of our world. And the Father sings over his Son, “This is my Son! My Beloved Son!,” who is preparing to offer his life for us. Because for all eternity, the Father rejoices in the Son, and the Son rejoices in the Father, in the joy of the Holy Spirit—the deepest, truest joy.

On earth, joy stirs our longing for eternity, drawing this desire from the well of our hearts like water. As we follow joy’s lead, we find ourselves at the waters of the Jordan, in the midst of an uproariously joyous celebration—an unveiling of God’s goodness: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”