The Bible clearly establishes that Jesus is known and identified by the roles He carried out for mankind.
He is known as "the Word of the Lord," "the Wisdom of the Lord," and as "the Messenger of the Lord." The question then is this,
"Is Jesus in these identifications united with or less than God?"
The words Jesus said to the Pharisees are very important in light of this question, "Before Abraham was I am." The Pharisees and
Teachers of the Law had no problem understanding the meaning of what Jesus was saying. Jesus was claiming to be eternal; He was the
Messiah the Savior of the World, the Everlasting Covenant Lord Himself. This Eternal existence makes Jesus equal in His Divine Nature
to the Father. The disciple John described the eternal existance of Jesus in this way.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men; 5 and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
As "the Word," He created all things. This would also mean that He created time, for time is a creation, otherwise there could not be
the day one mentioned in Creation. His Divinity and Divine Nature are beyond dispute. John is merely saying what he knows Jesus role to be. He explains
that Jesus, as the Divine Word of the Lord, became flesh and dwelt among us. John then goes on to point out that the Word is "the Light" of
men. As the Word of the Lord it is natural for Him to reveal to mankind the way to escape the darkness of sin by setting before
man the very embodiment of "the Wisdom of the Lord." Because of this He was and is the Life and Light of man. This Light, Life, and Wisdom is none other than Jesus
Christ Himself. Malachi had pointed out this truth when he identified who the Messenger of the covenant would be and identified Him
as the One who does not change.
Malachi 3:1 Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to
His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the Lord of hosts. 2 "But who can
endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderers' soap.
3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver,
so that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness. 4 "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the
Lord, as in the days of old, as in former years. 5 And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers,
against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away
an alien - because they do not fear Me," Says the Lord of Hosts. 6 "For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed,
O sons of Jacob.
How their hearts must have thrilled to hear these words about the Messenger of the covenant, that One they delightged to talk about,
coming to be their Savior. They kenw very well who He was. He was the Uncreated Angel (Messenger) of the Lord who delivered them
again and again. He was the One who promised Abraham that He would make his descendents into a great nation. He was
their Champion, the very One who led them out of Egypt in a pillar of cloud and fire. He built them into a covenant people
and fought for them again and again. He was the One who would be, "A man with the Lord," to establish salvation and His
Everlasting Kingdom.
As was true with Jesus as the Divenly Promised: "Seed", "Rock", "Prophet", "Priest", and "King", so it is also true here. If you make
Jesus Personage less than
"The Divine Word", less than
"The Divine Wisdom" or less than
"The Divine Messenger of the Lord",
then you are missing the
Majesty of His Persone In these Divine Roles Jesus, that Promised Deliver is clearly united with
and equal to God."
Back to Home Page