The media is continually listing “The Greatest” person, place, or thing of any category they can imagine. Many of the selections are based on popularity rather than on a selection of desirable, Godly attributes. Other selections are based on specific criteria like who can throw or hit up all the furthest. Then some are subject to individual opinions. The greatest singer, instrument, player, painter, novelist, speaker, etc. are all different depending on who is creating the list. Jesus, however, who is both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36), is unique in that the biblical evidence clearly shows his greatness. The Hebrew writer delivers a list of categories in which Jesus the Christ excels all others. Using scripture, let us look at some references to Jesus’ greatness.
In Hebrews 1:1-2, there is a reminder that throughout the Old Testament times, God had spoken to the ancients by way of both men and angles. In each message, they only delivered what God wanted people to know at that time. But finally, in these last days, God sent His Son with a final and complete message. Paul says of that message, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith” (Romans 1:16-17). As Paul continues the letter to the Romans, it becomes clear that this message, brought and delivered by God’s Son, is the only message that matters to mankind.
No other being, in heaven or on earth, could come close to being “the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3). John, a follower of Jesus from His baptism through his ascension, testified this way. “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Paul, in his first defense before the Jews, as he was being arrested, said “God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘you are my Son; today I have begotten you'” (Acts 13:33).
Jesus is greater than the prophets who spoke as the Spirit gave them a message to pass on, (2 Peter 1:21) because He spoke from firsthand knowledge (John 1:1-3). The proof that Jesus is the final word came directly from heaven as Moses and Elijah appeared with him on the Mountain of Transfiguration. As Peter suggested to build a house for each of them, the voice said, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” (Luke 9:35). Peter testified of the incident decades later when he wrote “He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased’ and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain” (2 Peter 1:16-18). Paul also told the Romans that the resurrection was proof when he wrote, “declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). Throughout the book of Acts, the proof of Jesus’ sonship, as well as that He is the final judge of humanity’s destination in eternity, is the fact of His resurrection. (Acts 2:31-32, 17:31).
All heavenly creatures except the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are created beings, “For 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” (Colossians 1:16). All earthly beings except Jesus the Christ are created or procreated beings and not a divine, heavenly, being. Only Jesus is the child of God by the power of the Spirit of God. Speaking to Mary, the mother of Jesus, “The angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God'” (Luke 1:35).
As the Son of God and with all the power of deity, Jesus was able to turn water into grape juice (John 2:7-9), calm a raging sea (Mark 4:39), heal the blind, lame, lepers, the deaf, and even raise the dead (Matthew 11:5). The only way Jesus could know how to accomplish all these and more was because he created all things in the beginning. Referring again to (Colossians 1:16), every item of creation was His workmanship. Along with the creature and the environment the creature lives in, He created the laws of nature also. Jesus formed and still controls every item created and the laws which govern their existence.
Even as Jesus was pronounced dead by those who crucified him, “the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!'” (Matthew 27:54). What do you believe about Jesus?
