12. Jesus' Pre-existence

Before Time

Pre-existence of Jesus The pre-existent Jesus begins his ministry with the proof of his deity when Jesus says to Peter in Matthew 4.10, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" He is making here a statement claiming that he is pre-existent with God Almighty or, in other words, that he is the pre-existent God himself. This statement echoes Deuteronomy 6.13, "Fear the Lord your God, serve him only, and take your oaths in his name." We find the same response in Matthew 14.33 from those who experience Jesus' control over the natural elements of storm, wind, waves, and rain. Those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." ✞

Passing Through Walls

Jesus Resurrected The pre-existence of Jesus illustrates his uniqueness by the name, "Son of God," which means that this person is, in fact, the same as God, the same biological makeup of any son to any father. After the resurrection, Jesus again proves that he is, in fact, God by passing through a wall and a locked door. The reaction from his disciples is entirely predictable. Suddenly Jesus meets them. "Greetings," he says in Matthew 28.9. They come to him, clasp his feet and worship him. ✞

Honor the Son

Electrified Jesus During his lifetime, Jesus sometimes hints in vague terms, and sometimes he is God to the disciples. In John 17.24, he refers to his glory and the Father's love saying, "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world." Jesus asks to be treated like God and honored in the same way in John 5.23. He says, "that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him." The writer in Hebrews 1.6 presses the same point that Jesus Christ, the firstborn, is equal in all ways to the Heavenly Father, writing, "And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, 'Let all God's angels worship him.'" ✞

Lamb of God

Jesus, the Lamb of God, is equal to God, and thousands of angels and every living creature in heaven and on earth worship him. In the Gospel of John, we read about Jesus, the Lamb of God. John 1.29 reports, "The next day John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" We also read in John 1.35-36, "The next day John (the Baptist) was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, 'Look, the Lamb of God!'" ✞

Passover Lamb

The term "lamb" and "Lamb of God" would immediately remind Jewish listeners of the Passover Lamb sacrificed in the Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Passover Feast. This sacrificial lamb took the people's sins upon itself and, therefore, turned away God's wrath. Saint Peter explains in 1 Peter 1.18-21, "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that God redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. God chose him before the world's creation, but revealed him in these last times for your sake. Through him, you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, so faith and hope are in God." ✞

Elders Fall Down

Angel Anything written about the Lord God also applies to Jesus, the Lamb of God. If the Lord God is worshipped and served by angels, then logically, so is Jesus. In Revelation 5.9b, we read that the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fall before the lamb. Each one has a harp, holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sing a new song, "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you died, and with your blood, you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." ✞

Multitudes of Angels

Multitudes of angels worship Jesus here. "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures, and the elders. In a loud voice, they sing, 'Worthy is the slain Lamb to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!'" Then I heard every creature in heaven and earth, under ground and on the sea. They are singing as in Revelation 5.13, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!" Every creature in Heaven and Earth exalts Jesus, the Lamb of God. ✞

Jesus Co-Creator

Creation Is Jesus co-creator of the Universe as the Scripture claims? If so, he is above all other humans, angels, and divine beings. In the opening of John's Gospel, the Scriptures acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Co-Creator God. At the beginning of time, he is with the Holy Spirit and the Father. John calls Jesus "the Word." In John 1.1-3, he clearly states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made through him, and without him, nothing existed." ✞

Image of Invisible God

Here we see Jesus as the Co-Creator and the Word. Saint Paul in Colossians 16.15-17 reinforces what Saint John is writing, "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. In him, God created all things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, thrones, powers, rulers, or authorities. All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him, all things hold together." ✞

Jesus Christ is Lord

Jesus tells the people who he is. But even the ordinary people from his hometown of Nazareth question his age and origins. They say, "You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham!" Jesus responds in John 8.57-58, "before Abraham was born, I am!" This phrase, Jesus the Co-Creator God, sounds innocent enough until one realizes that to Jewish ears, it was the worst kind of blasphemy for Jesus to call himself God at all, who was in their eyes just an ordinary human being. ✞

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