Names of Jesus: Part One

THE WORD: JESUS’ NAME FROM ETERNITY PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

John 1:5(NASB)—“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. 4In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. 5And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it.”

Colossians 1:15-17(NASB)—“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: 16for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 

Devotional—John opens his book by presenting the preexistence of Jesus Christ as the Word, His role in creation, and His incarnation as the Light and Life of mankind.  This first chapter is designed to confirm our faith in Christ as the eternal Son of God, the true Messiah and Savior of the world, one with the Father, and God eternal. John deliberately uses the same phrase used to open Genesis 1,”In the beginning….”.  Christ is the Word uttered, by speech, through whom the Father has spoken to us, making known God’s mind to us.  Being the Word, He is truth, the faithful witness of the mind of God.

In Colossians 1:15-17, Paul makes the case for the preeminence of Jesus. Both of the verses point us to the eternal existence of Jesus. Paul says Jesus is the image of the invisible God and His Glory. In fact, Jesus himself said if we had seen Him, we had seen the Father.  Paul goes on to speak of Jesus as the Creator and Sustainer of all things, having authority over all things—from eternity past to eternity future.

I know this can be difficult to grasp. But would we want a God, a Savior, a King who is small enough to fit our simple framework? I would not. I give thanks that the Christ I serve is eternal, with all knowledge, wisdom, power, and authority from eternity past to eternity future.

Prayer—Let us give thanks for who He is. Give thanks that His Word is eternal, never changing. Give thanks for His creation, His wisdom, His power. Give thanks that He has made Himself known to us and provided the path to be His sons and daughters for eternity.