The gospels record that there are three separate times that people on Earth audibly heard the voice of God.
I think we can all agree that for God to have uttered his voice, the subject matter must have been of utmost importance.
The first time recorded that God spoke, was when Yeshua got baptized by John the Baptist.
In order to understand the actions of Christ that God was approving of, one really needs to realize that John’s baptism was not the same baptism that occurs in Christianity today.
John was calling people out of their blood sacrificial religion and performing a Jewish purification bath called a mikvah in order to cleanse them from the blood.
It was done in public to let all know that the one being baptized was leaving the temple religion that Moses had set up, and instead, was committing to connect with God spiritually—the kingdom of God is at hand.
You can extract this information by knowing Jewish custom and by reading the actions and interactions of John.
That is why John called the religious leaders snakes and vipers and refused to do the mikvah for them. John told them that they would need to bring fruits of repentance.
The Christian religion has continued the baptism as a symbol that people are joining their religion.
It is opposite of what John was doing. He was calling them out of their religion.
So, here comes Yeshua. God had let him know that he was to be baptized also. As he was being submerged, God spoke,
“This is my beloved Pais, in whom I am well pleased.”
Pais is Greek and is derived from the Hebrew word, Ebed, which means servant.
God used the same verbiage that Isaiah used in chapter 42 of the Hebrew Bible—This is my servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one, in whom I delight…He shall teach the true way.
God was showing delight in the actions of Christ who was making a public proclamation of being cleansed from the blood sacrificial religion.
The second time God spoke audibly was during the time Yeshua took Peter, James, and John up a mountain away from everyone, and a magnificent transfiguration of Christ occurred.
Not only was Yeshua glowing bright white, but Moses and Elijah appeared.
Peter, James and John would have known who they were by the staff that Moses held and the signature girdle that Elijah wore.
Imagine being Peter, James and John. It would have been a mind-blowing experience. However, Christ did not take them up there to blow their minds—There was definitely a purpose.
You see, Yeshua had been teaching about the kingdom of God and people thronged him, not to hear him, but because of what he did for them, healings, giving money to the poor, feeding the masses.
Even the disciples did not understand his parables, and were having a difficult time entering in to the spiritual place that Christ was talking so much about, the kingdom of God.
So there they were on the mountain having a burning bush scenario, just like Moses had in the desert. Instead of the bush on fire, Christ was shining like a beacon.
One of the Gospel accounts said the three disciples fell to the ground in paralyzing fear. However, Peter must have mustered up some courage, because he interrupted Christ’s conversation with Moses and Elijah, and asked a question.
Peter must have believed that they were standing on holy ground, because he said, “Master, is it good for us to be here?” “And, shall we build three tabernacles, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah?”
Peter was asking if they should mark that holy ground with tabernacles. A tabernacle was a portable temple, just like Moses had made.
Peter wanted to erect religious places of worship to honor that miraculous occasion. That is when God spoke,
“This is my beloved Pais in whom I am well pleased, Hear him.
God did not want places of worship erected; He wanted the disciples to listen to Yeshua.
This is my Chosen one, in whom I am delighted. Listen to him, because he came to teach you the way!
But sadly, no one ever really heard Yeshua. There were two groups he needed to reach. The religious leaders and the disciples.
The religious leaders flat out rejected his words. And, his disciples showed by their actions and words that they never really understood what Christ was talking about.
The third time God spoke audibly occurred after they arrived in Jerusalem.
Yeshua had just ridden in on the colt and the book of John records it was a fanfare, people singing praises and lining the way with palms.
Christ had become a celebrity because word had spread that he had risen Lazarus from the dead and even Greeks were coming into town during the Jewish Passover to see Yeshua.
The Pharisees were livid and murmured that the whole world had gone after him.
Christ knew that he was in his final hours, and he knew that all these people that had hope in God because of him, were about to be crushed. Yeshua’s heart was troubled.
The sheep were about to lose their shepherd.
However, instead of praying for himself and asking God to save him from that hour, he said a simple prayer, “Father, glorify your name.”
The word glory in Aramaic is Shavach, which means, a satisfying fulfillment, a calm, a feeling of completeness.
That is what Christ did for the people during his time on Earth. He put people’s spirits at ease by showing them how really wonderful God is.
Christ portrayed God as non-judgmental, merciful, compassionate, generous, kind…
He gave them a refreshing fulfillment, a peaceful feeling, a completeness. He showed them the true nature of God. Yeshua glorified God’s name.
So, in his simple prayer, Yeshua was asking God to glorify his name to comfort his followers when he was taken away.
That is when God spoke and said, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
Christ responded that those words were not for him, but for their sake.
I believe that the last part, “I will glorify it again”, has yet to be fulfilled and I hope the day is coming soon.