Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan, with spectacular displays following. While He was stepping out of the waters, “the heavens were opened,” a dove came upon Him, and the voice of God was heard announcing, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
Lately, that proclamation has struck me with a fresh interest, stirring a profound question to which you are probably the one to provide me an answer: What about Jesus made Him well pleasing to the Father? At that time, Jesus had preached to no multitude, healed no sick, and multiplied neither bread nor fish to feed thousands. He had turned no water into wine, stilled no storm, cleansed no leper. He was merely known as a carpenter’s son whose mother and siblings were also well known (Mark 6:3). In other words, Jesus hadn’t started ‘ministry’ as we generally know it. If He was no great preacher then, what was so pleasing to the Father about Him? For what quality in Him did God so loudly and publicly proclaim Him as a “beloved” Son, one in whom He was not just pleased but “well pleased”?
It is generally believed that God is more pleased with ministers because of the work they do for Him. After all, God warns, “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm” (Psalm 105:15), thereby inherently making a distinction between His anointed ones and every other person. On that basis, such great commendations as the Father made at the River of Jordan should have been reserved for those who heal, who preach, who move the crowds – His revered prophets. Even before Jesus had done any of those mighty works, He was acclaimed by God as one with whom He was very happy. Why?
If that proud public commendation was based on the Heavenly Jesus before His earthly incarnation, or on His future sacrifice on the cross, could the Father have said, “… In whom I was well pleased,” or “In whom I shall be well pleased”? Not sure. Forgive my grammar. But whatever the case, the Jordan proclamation doesn’t seem to have been based on Jesus’ ‘ministry,’ which He hadn’t even started at the time. So, what about Jesus the man was so pleasing to the Father?
If it was not ‘ministry’ or works to which God was referring when He expressed that great delight, we can only point to lifestyle. From youth, it was said of Jesus, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40). In other words, Jesus was a wise child who did not waste the grace of God on His life. Great. Again, it was said, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). He had favour not only with God but also with men. Unlike Jesus, however, there are those who care little about how others perceive them. So long as they think they are in favour with God, everyone else may go to hell. That was not the case with Jesus growing up. Even as a “child,” He was a wise person, whose pleasant nature attracted the goodwill not only of God but also of humans.
As a child, Jesus regularly followed His parents to church (Luke 2:41-43), and if anyone was looking for Him, they knew where to find Him: not at the club or with some lousy girls and guys. They looked for Him in the temple, and often found Him engaged with mentors and elders of a virile sort (Luke 2:46). Not only His ‘spots’ but also His company seemed predictable, and He had favour with men. I wonder, in the three days while His earthly parents were looking for Him, where did the young Jesus sleep? What did He eat? How did He react to having been ‘abandoned’ by those who should have been caring for Him?
Fast-forward to His baptism. Jesus was the Son of God, yet when the time came to be baptised, He didn’t send for John to come to Him; He went “unto John” (Matthew 3:13). And when He spoke to Pastor John, He spoke inclusively about “US to fulfil all righteousness,” not ‘me’ (Matthew 3:15). What does that say about Him?
Do I need to be in ‘ministry’ to please God? Is the Father in heaven more pleased with my works for Him than with me? Is beloved sonship a factor of what I do for Him? Is the size of the Father’s good pleasure commensurate with or measured by the size of my works? Between the mighty miracle worker with his multitudes and the unknown widow with her mites, with whom is God more pleased? Why? I await your answers.
From The Preacher’s diary,
February 6, 2026.
Prepare for a divine Enlargement as you attend:
MINISTERS FORUM
with
Prof Kontein Trinya
A Trans-denominational Programme
Topic: The Spirituality of your Money and Gifts
Date: Monday, February 23, 2026
Time: 4.00pm, Nigeria (WAT – Nigeria time)
Venue: Conference Hall, Graduate Business School,
St. John’s Campus, Aba Road,
Ignatius Ajuru University of Education
Port Harcourt,
For online participation:
Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83040745485?pwd=eE5aeVFBWXBNZm9pMWhHSm9jRGlRQT09
Meeting ID: 830 4074 5485
Passcode: Jesus
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+234 803 5115 025
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Theme of the year: ENLARGEMENT
“Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwelling; Do not spare; Lengthen your stakes” – Isaiah 54:2 (NIV).
Obviously, the Sovereign Lord is more pleased with those who showcase HIS character. The fruit of the recreated human spirit as empowered by the Holy Spirit are the things that touch the heart of God.
Those first called Christians at Antioch were so called because of their lifestyle, not the mighty works that are products of the gifts of the Spirit. What qualified David as the man after God’s heart? Certainly, not mighty miracles.
This calls to question our idea of who God’s Generals really are.
The Preacher’s pen… always making his readers journey along new perspectives on familiar scriptures. More grace, sir.
Hmmm….. “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40).
Growth is one aspect of our lives that God is so much interested in. There is need for transformative growth as we walk with God daily.
Evang. John Zacharia told the multitude that came for baptism:
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance (Matt. 3:8). That means, it is not enough to claim to be Born Again; let’s SEE FRUITS meet (suitable) for REPENTANCE.
Another attribute that endows one to God is that of HUMILITY. In Philippians 2:5-9:
[5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: [6] who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name (KJV).
Jesus wore humility as a garment. You can imagine customers who would have rebuked and talked rashly to him for not meeting their demands in the carpentry shop (you know customers have a way of being out the worse in service providers). 😂 But in all, Jesus remained calm and represented His Father; he was faultless (John 18:38
Pilate saith… I find in him no fault at all).
So you see why he became the BELOVED of God?
So what is wrong with us today? Many are going for the GIFTS, and not the FRUITS.
May God help us to get oire priority right, as we walk with God, in Jesus Name. Amennnnnnn 🙏🏽
I think God is more pleased with us and our replicated Christ-like life and fruit of the Spirit which would accompany us to heaven unlike the GIFTS, MULTITUDE AND MIGHTY WORKS; which He could get donkeys and expired old prophets to manifest if he so desires…
Lifestyle matters a lot.
I’ve read all the answers submitted here presently and I want add that Jesus’ obedience to come to the world to reconcile man unto God is one of the reasons that made God to be “very well please” with Him.
Thank you sir for insightful teachings.
Great grace sir.