“This
pre-incarnate Christ was not merely a spectator or even just an agent
of
creation—He was its purpose. All things were created "through Him and
for
Him" (Colossians 1:16). The entire cosmos, from the most distant galaxy
to
the smallest subatomic particle, exists for Christ, points to Christ,
and
finds its meaning in Christ”.
Excellent article written
on 06 Apr 2025:
Jesus Christ: The Eternal
King and Lord of Time
Jesus Christ: The Eternal
King and Lord of Time
Introduction: The Fullness of Christ Revealed
"In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He
was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without
Him nothing was made that was made."
— John 1:1-3
In the grand tapestry of divine revelation, one figure
stands supreme, transcending time, space, and the limitations of human
understanding. Jesus Christ—the Word made flesh, the Alpha and Omega, the King
of Kings and Lord of Lords—is not merely a historical figure who appeared in
Bethlehem two thousand years ago. He is the eternal Son of God, whose glory,
power, and sovereignty stretch from before creation's dawn to beyond the
consummation of all things.
He is the central figure of Scripture, history, and
eternity—the one in whom "all the fullness of the Godhead dwells
bodily" (Colossians 2:9).
This essay explores the surpassing glory, worth, and
majesty of Jesus Christ as revealed across the entire sweep of Scripture and
divine history. From His pre-incarnate manifestations to patriarchs and
prophets, to His incarnation, death, and resurrection, to His coming again in
glory—Jesus Christ stands as the sovereign Lord of time and creation, working
out the divine plan of redemption that was established "before the
foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4).
As we trace His movements through history, His
appearances in various forms, His words spoken through prophets, and His
actions in establishing and fulfilling the covenant promises, we behold the
breathtaking unity of God's redemptive purpose centered in the person of His
Son. We see how every thread of prophecy, every divine oath, every covenant
promise, and every appointed time finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is
"the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).
I. Christ Before Creation: The Eternal Son
Before anything else existed, the Son was. Not merely
existing, but reigning in glory, equal with the Father, participating in the
divine counsel, and preparing to execute the divine plan for creation and
redemption.
"He
is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him
all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things
were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him
all things consist."
— Colossians 1:15-17
The Son's eternal existence is foundational to
understanding His role throughout Scripture. He did not come into being at His
birth in Bethlehem; He has always been. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
existed in perfect communion before creation began—a divine fellowship of love
and glory.
"Father,
I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they
may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the
foundation of the world."
— John 17:24
When the divine counsel declared "Let Us make man
in Our image" (Genesis 1:26), the Son was an active participant in
creation. As John affirms, "All things were made through Him, and without
Him nothing was made that was made" (John 1:3). Creation itself bears the
imprint of the Son's wisdom, power, and artistry.
This pre-incarnate Christ was not merely a spectator
or even just an agent of creation—He was its purpose. All things were created
"through Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16). The entire cosmos, from
the most distant galaxy to the smallest subatomic particle, exists for Christ,
points to Christ, and finds its meaning in Christ.
II. The Pre-Incarnate Christ: Divine Manifestations
Throughout the Old Testament, we find mysterious
appearances of a figure often identified as "the Angel of the
LORD"—not a created angel, but a unique manifestation who speaks with
divine authority, receives worship, and is identified with YHWH Himself. These
theophanies (divine appearances) represent the pre-incarnate Christ interacting
with humanity, establishing the covenant lineage, and preparing the way for His
eventual incarnation.
A. Christ and the Patriarchs
1. The Word to Abraham
When Abraham received the covenant promises, it was
the pre-incarnate Christ who appeared to him:
"After
these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, 'Do not be
afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.'"
— Genesis 15:1
This "word of the LORD" (דְבַר־יְהוָה / debar-YHWH) who came to Abraham was the same
eternal Word (λόγος / Logos) who would later become flesh in John 1:14. When
the covenant was formally established through sacrifice, it was this divine
Word who passed between the pieces, swearing by Himself to fulfill the covenant
promises (Genesis 15:17-18).
Later, when three visitors appeared to Abraham at
Mamre, one of them was addressed as "YHWH" (Genesis 18:1-3). This was
no mere angel but the pre-incarnate Son, who discussed the fate of Sodom with
Abraham as one having divine authority to judge. The eternal Lamb--slain before
the foundation of the world.
2. Wrestling with Jacob
At Peniel, Jacob wrestled with a mysterious figure
whom he later identified as God Himself:
"So
Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: 'For I have seen God face to face,
and my life is preserved.'"
— Genesis 32:30
This divine wrestler, who blessed Jacob and gave him
the name Israel, was none other than the pre-incarnate Christ. The prophet
Hosea later confirmed this, saying Jacob "struggled with God. Yes, he
struggled with the Angel and prevailed" (Hosea 12:3-4). This
"Angel" who is also "God" represents the Son before His
incarnation, condescending to establish the covenant with the patriarch of the
twelve tribes.
B. Christ in the Exodus and Wilderness
1. The Burning Bush
When Moses encountered the burning bush in Midian, the
text states: "And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire
from the midst of a bush" (Exodus 3:2). Yet this Angel then identifies
Himself as "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob" (Exodus 3:6), and reveals His name as "I AM WHO I AM"
(Exodus 3:14).
This was no created angel but the eternal Son, the
second person of the Trinity, appearing to commission Moses for the liberation
of His people. Jesus Himself later claimed this divine name, declaring to the
Jewish leaders, "Before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:58), thus
identifying Himself as the God of the burning bush.
2. The Pillar of Cloud and Fire
Throughout the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, God
led Israel with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. This visible
manifestation of divine presence and guidance was identified as "the Angel
of God" (Exodus 14:19) who protected Israel at the Red Sea. This Angel was
none other than the pre-incarnate Christ, leading His people out of bondage and
toward the Promised Land.
"Moreover,
brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the
cloud, all passed through the sea... and all drank the same spiritual drink.
For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was
Christ."
— 1 Corinthians 10:1, 4
Paul explicitly identifies the spiritual Rock that
provided water in the wilderness as Christ Himself, confirming that the
pre-incarnate Son was actively present with Israel throughout their wilderness
journey.
3. Sinai and the Covenant
When God descended on Mount Sinai to establish the
covenant with Israel, it was the pre-incarnate Son who mediated this covenant.
Moses and the elders of Israel "saw the God of Israel. And there was under
His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very
heavens in its clarity" (Exodus 24:10).
This vision of God in human form—with feet walking on
sapphire—was a glimpse of the pre-incarnate Christ, who would later take
permanent human form in the incarnation. The book of Hebrews confirms that
Christ is "the Mediator of the new covenant" (Hebrews 12:24), just as
He was the mediator of the old covenant at Sinai.
C. Christ in the Time of Judges and Kings
1. The Captain of the LORD's Army
When
Joshua was preparing to conquer Jericho, he encountered a mysterious figure:
"And
it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and
looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand.
And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, 'Are You for us or for our
adversaries?' So He said, 'No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have
now come.'"
— Joshua 5:13-14
Joshua fell on his face in worship, and the Commander
did not rebuke him but instead said, "Take your sandal off your foot, for
the place where you stand is holy" (Joshua 5:15)—the same command given to
Moses at the burning bush.
This was the pre-incarnate Christ, appearing as the
divine Commander leading Israel's conquest of the Promised Land.
2. Gideon's Visitor
When the Angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, the
text again reveals this was no ordinary angel:
"Then
the LORD turned to him and said, 'Go in this might of yours, and you shall save
Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?'"
— Judges 6:14
The narrative shifts seamlessly between "the
Angel of the LORD" and "the LORD" Himself speaking to Gideon.
When Gideon presented an offering, "the Angel of the LORD departed from
his sight" (Judges 6:21), leading Gideon to exclaim, "Alas, O Lord
GOD! For I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face" (Judges 6:22).
This divine visitor, accepting worship and speaking
with divine authority, was the pre-incarnate Christ, commissioning a deliverer
for His people.
3. David's Lord
In Psalm 110, David wrote about a divine figure whom
he called "my Lord":
"The
LORD said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your
footstool.'"
— Psalm 110:1
Jesus Himself cited this verse to prove His divine
identity, asking the Pharisees, "If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He
his Son?" (Matthew 22:45). This psalm reveals the pre-incarnate Christ,
enthroned at the Father's right hand, awaiting the time when He would take on
human flesh as David's descendant while remaining David's divine Lord.
In Psalm 2, David saw the divine decree establishing
the Son as King:
"I
will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have
begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance,
and the ends of the earth for Your possession.'"
— Psalm 2:7-8
This decree, spoken in eternity past, refers to the
eternal Son who would later be incarnated as the Messiah. David's prophetic
visions revealed the pre-incarnate Christ's royal status and coming reign.
In Psalm 45, David beheld the divine King in His
beauty and majesty:
"Your
throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter
of Your kingdom."
— Psalm 45:6
The book of Hebrews directly applies this verse to
Christ (Hebrews 1:8-9), confirming that David was seeing the pre-incarnate Son
in His divine glory.
D. Christ in the Prophets
1. Isaiah's Visions
When Isaiah "saw the Lord sitting on a throne,
high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple" (Isaiah
6:1), he was beholding the pre-incarnate Christ in glory. John confirms this,
stating, "These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of
Him" (John 12:41).
This vision of the thrice-holy King surrounded by
seraphim was a glimpse of the eternal Son, whose incarnation and redemptive
work Isaiah would prophesy throughout his book.
In Isaiah 53, the prophet received a detailed vision
of the coming Suffering Servant, the incarnate Christ who would be
"wounded for our transgressions" and "bruised for our
iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5).
This extraordinary prophecy, written seven centuries
before the crucifixion, reveals the precision with which the eternal Son
planned His redemptive mission.
In Isaiah 63, the prophet sees a vision of the divine
warrior coming from Edom:
"Who
is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is
glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength?—'I who
speak in righteousness, mighty to save.'"
— Isaiah 63:1
This warrior, stained with the blood of His enemies,
is the pre-incarnate Christ revealing His future role as judge and deliverer.
The vision anticipates both His first coming (to save) and His second coming
(to judge).
2. Ezekiel's Vision of the Glory
When Ezekiel saw "the likeness of the glory of
the LORD" by the River Chebar, he beheld "the likeness of a throne,
in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a
likeness with the appearance of a man high above it" (Ezekiel 1:26).
This human form enveloped in radiant glory was the
pre-incarnate Christ, the visible manifestation of the invisible God, seated on
His heavenly throne. The sapphire throne echoes the vision given to Moses and
the elders at Sinai, showing the consistent appearance of the pre-incarnate Son
throughout Israel's history.
3. Daniel's Visions
Daniel beheld "One like the Son of Man, coming
with the clouds of heaven" who "came to the Ancient of Days" and
received "dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and
languages should serve Him" (Daniel 7:13-14). This was the pre-incarnate
Christ revealed in His future glory, receiving universal kingship from the
Father.
Later, by the River Tigris, Daniel saw a glorious
figure:
"I
lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose
waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, His face like the
appearance of lightning, His eyes like torches of fire, His arms and feet like
burnished bronze in color, and the sound of His words like the voice of a
multitude."
— Daniel 10:5-6
This description closely matches John's
vision of the glorified Christ in Revelation 1:13-16, confirming that Daniel
encountered the pre-incarnate Son in His divine splendor. This glorious figure
raised His hand to heaven and swore the oath that would seal Daniel's prophetic
timeline—the same gesture that would be repeated by the mighty angel in
Revelation 10, confirming the continuity of Christ's sovereign control over
prophetic history.
4. The Minor Prophets
Zechariah saw visions of "the Angel of the
LORD" who interceded for Jerusalem (Zechariah 1:12) and functioned as the
divine presence among His people. This Angel is identified as YHWH Himself when
He declares, "I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great
zeal" (Zechariah 1:14).
Zechariah also prophesied the Messiah's entry into
Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9), His betrayal for thirty pieces of silver
(Zechariah 11:12-13), and His piercing (Zechariah 12:10)—all precise details of
Christ's first coming that would be fulfilled centuries later.
Malachi foretold the coming of "the Messenger of
the covenant" who would "suddenly come to His temple" (Malachi
3:1). This divine Messenger, equated with the Lord Himself, is the
pre-incarnate Christ who would later visit the temple in human flesh.
Micah prophesied the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem
while affirming His eternal nature:
"But
you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose
goings forth are from of old, from everlasting."
— Micah 5:2
This remarkable prophecy reveals both the
incarnation's specificity (Bethlehem) and the eternal pre-existence of the Son
("from everlasting"). The pre-incarnate Christ was orchestrating the
precise details of His future earthly mission through the prophets.
III. The Incarnate Christ: God Among Us
The mystery of the incarnation stands at the center of
redemptive history: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we
beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of
grace and truth" (John 1:14). The eternal Son, who had revealed Himself
partially through theophanies and prophetic visions, now took on permanent
human nature without diminishing His divine nature.
"Let
this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of
God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no
reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of
men."
— Philippians 2:5-7
His birth fulfilled dozens of specific prophecies
given centuries earlier:
- Born of a virgin
(Isaiah 7:14)
- Born in Bethlehem
(Micah 5:2)
- From the tribe of
Judah (Genesis 49:10)
- From the lineage of
David (2 Samuel 7:12-13)
- Worshiped by kings
bearing gifts (Psalm 72:10-11)
- Called out of Egypt
(Hosea 11:1)
- Preceded by a
messenger (Isaiah 40:3)
The mathematical probability of one person fulfilling
even a fraction of these prophecies by chance is statistically impossible,
demonstrating the sovereign orchestration of the eternal Son throughout
history.
Christ's earthly ministry revealed His divine identity
through His:
- Authoritative
teaching: "He taught them as one having authority" (Matthew
7:29)
- Miraculous power:
healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead
- Command over nature:
calming storms, walking on water, multiplying food
- Claims of divinity:
"I and My Father are one" (John 10:30)
- Fulfillment of the
Messianic prophecies: "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your
hearing" (Luke 4:21)
His perfect life fulfilled the righteousness
requirements of the Law that no other human could achieve. As both fully God
and fully man, He alone could serve as the perfect mediator between God and
humanity, bridging the infinite gulf created by sin.
IV. The Crucified Christ: Divine Sacrifice
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ represents the central
act of redemptive history—the moment when the eternal Son bore the sins of
humanity and satisfied divine justice. This was no tragic accident but the
fulfillment of the divine plan established "before the foundation of the
world" (1 Peter 1:20).
"For
Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might
bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the
Spirit."
— 1 Peter 3:18
Christ's suffering and death fulfilled dozens of
specific Old Testament prophecies, including:
- Betrayed by a friend
(Psalm 41:9)
- Sold for thirty
pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12)
- Silent before His
accusers (Isaiah 53:7)
- Pierced in His hands
and feet (Psalm 22:16)
- Crucified with
transgressors (Isaiah 53:12)
- Garments divided by
casting lots (Psalm 22:18)
- Given gall and
vinegar (Psalm 69:21)
- No bones broken
(Psalm 34:20)
- Pierced (Zechariah
12:10)
- Buried in a rich
man's tomb (Isaiah 53:9)
The cross stands as the supreme demonstration of both
divine justice and divine love. As the hymn writer put it, "Here might I
stay and sing, no story so divine; never was love, dear King, never was grief
like Thine."
On the cross, the eternal Son who had created the
cosmos now bore the full weight of human sin. The One who had appeared to Moses
in burning glory now endured the unimaginable darkness of separation from the
Father. The Commander of heaven's armies submitted to the most shameful
execution devised by human cruelty.
Yet in this apparent defeat lay the greatest victory
in cosmic history. Through His death, Christ:
- Paid the ransom for
many (Mark 10:45)
- Became the
propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2)
- Canceled the record
of debt against us (Colossians 2:14)
- Disarmed the
principalities and powers (Colossians 2:15)
- Destroyed the power
of death (Hebrews 2:14)
- Reconciled all
things to God (Colossians 1:20)
The eternal Son, who had sworn the covenant oath to
Abraham, now ratified the New Covenant with His own blood. The divine Lawgiver
became the perfect sacrifice to satisfy His own holy requirements. The Judge of
all the earth subjected Himself to human judgment to save the guilty.
V. The Resurrected Christ: Death Conquered
The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the divine
vindication of His perfect sacrifice and the definitive demonstration of His
divine identity. By conquering death, Christ proved both His deity and the
effectiveness of His atoning work.
"He
was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our
justification."
— Romans 4:25
The resurrection fulfilled ancient prophecies,
including:
- "You will not
leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see
corruption" (Psalm 16:10)
- "After two days
He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up" (Hosea 6:2)
- "I will open
your graves and cause you to come up from your graves" (Ezekiel
37:12)
Christ's resurrection transformed a small band of
frightened disciples into fearless apostles willing to die for their testimony.
It established the Christian faith on an empirical historical foundation—over
500 eyewitnesses saw the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:6), and many of them
suffered martyrdom rather than recant their testimony.
More than just a historical event, the resurrection
has cosmic significance. It represents:
- The firstfruits of
the new creation (1 Corinthians 15:20)
- The defeat of death
itself (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)
- The guarantee of
believers' resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:22)
- The validation of
the gospel message (1 Corinthians 15:14)
- The demonstration of
divine power (Ephesians 1:19-20)
The risen Christ, still bearing the wounds of
crucifixion in His glorified body, reveals that the incarnation was not
temporary. The eternal Son has permanently united Himself with human nature,
elevating humanity to unprecedented dignity. The God who created humanity in
His image has now taken that image upon Himself forever.
VI. The Ascended Christ: Universal King
Following His resurrection, Christ ascended to heaven,
returning to the glory He had shared with the Father before the world began,
but now bringing glorified humanity to the throne of God.
"When
He had by Himself purged our sins, [He] sat down at the right hand of the
Majesty on high."
— Hebrews 1:3
The ascension fulfilled Christ's words to Mary
Magdalene: "I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and
your God" (John 20:17). It also fulfilled Daniel's vision of "One
like the Son of Man" coming to the Ancient of Days to receive an
everlasting dominion (Daniel 7:13-14).
From His heavenly throne, the ascended Christ now:
- Serves as our High
Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16)
- Intercedes for
believers (Romans 8:34)
- Sends the Holy
Spirit (John 16:7)
- Gives gifts to the
Church (Ephesians 4:8)
- Rules over all
creation (Ephesians 1:20-22)
- Prepares a place for
His followers (John 14:2-3)
His ascension does not represent absence but a
different mode of presence. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ is "with you
always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). The incarnate One who
walked the dusty roads of Galilee now fills all things (Ephesians 4:10), being
present wherever two or three gather in His name (Matthew 18:20).
The ascended Christ now bears the highest name and
receives universal worship:
"Therefore
God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and
of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
— Philippians 2:9-11
This universal acclamation fulfills Isaiah's prophecy
that "every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath" (Isaiah
45:23). The ascended Christ has received the very worship that YHWH declared
was His alone, confirming again the full deity of the Son.
….
