“And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!’” Luke 9:35
Jesus’ identity was revealed through His authority and power to heal demon-possessed people (8:1-3, 26-39), to transform lives through His teaching (8:4-21), to calm storms at sea (8:22-25), to heal what man could never heal (8:43-48), to raise the dead (8:40-42, 49-56), to change ordinary men into dynamic messengers of the gospel (9:1-6), to captivate political leaders (9:7-9), to miraculously provide food for the multitudes (9:10-17), to persuade His followers of His true identity (9:18-20), to predict the future (9:21-22), to demand sacrificial allegiance (9:23-26), and to reveal His future glory as King over all the earth (9:27-34).
God the Father identified Jesus as His “beloved Son” (9:35a). Because of who Jesus is, we are to “hear [and obey] Him!” There is no one else like Jesus Christ. This is why more books have been written about Jesus and more songs have been sung about Him than any other person in history. Even Islam’s sacred book, the Quran, mentions the name of Jesus more than its founder, Mohammed.
No one else can come close to matching Jesus’ credentials and influence. He is the God-Man (John 1:1, 14) who died for the sins of the world (John 1:29) and rose from the dead (I Cor. 15:1-6)! “Hear Him” when He says, “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). He is “the truth” (John 14:6) and cannot lie. He always keeps His promises.
When you believe in Him for His free gift (Rom. 6:23), He gives you everlasting life which can never be lost (John 10:28-29), He places you into God’s family forever (John 1:12; 6:37), and He comes to live inside of you forever through His Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11; Gal. 2:20; Heb. 13:5). He wants to be your best Friend. Spend time talking with Him in prayer (Phil 4:6-7) and learn to listen to Him as you read and study the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Find a church that preaches God’s Word and makes disciples of Christ, so you can grow with other believers in Jesus (Heb. 10:24-25). Let Jesus teach you how to share His gospel message with those you love and care for (Matt. 4:19). You will never be the same as you grow closer to God’s “beloved Son!”