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Response
The Bible portrays Jesus as superior to all who lived before Him and all who will come after Him. Colossians 1 clearly establishes the doctrine of Christ’s supremacy “in everything” “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”, (Colossians 1:18). Ephesians 1:22 states, “God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.”
Jesus surpasses all creation. As the creator of all things, He naturally holds this position. Jesus demonstrated His authority over creation by calming the storm “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”, (Mark 4:39), multiplying the loaves and fish “And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.”, (Mark 8:6—9), restoring sight to the blind “And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.”, (Mark 8:22—25), and walking on water “And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.”, (Mark 6:48). “All things have been created through him and for him” “for by him were aAll things created, whether in heaven or on earth, visible or invisible, such as thrones, dominions, principalities, or powers, were created by Him and for Him.” «, (Colossians 1:16).
Jesus surpasses Abraham. Father Abraham remains one of the most respected figures in history. Once, while Jesus spoke to the Jews about their ancestry, they inquired, “Are you greater than our father Abraham?” «Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? », (John 8:53). Jesus’ response astonished them: “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad. . . . Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!” «Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. », (John 8:56,58) «Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. », (John 8:56,58).
Jesus surpasses Jacob. Another patriarch, Jacob, also known as “Israel” by God «And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. », (Genesis 32:28). While conversing with a woman at Jacob’s Well in Samaria, Jesus mentioned that He could offer her “living water” «Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. », (Exodus 33:11). Before his death, Moses instructed the Israelites to anticipate the arrival of another Prophet who would bear some resemblance to him: “You must listen to him” «The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; », (Deuteronomy 18:15). Jesus fulfilled the Law « Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. », (Matthew 5:17), liberated us from sin and death «For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. », (Romans 8:2), and unquestionably performed miracles «Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man appro
«God attested to Jesus among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know», (Acts 2:22). Hebrews 3:3 states that “Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses.”
Jesus surpasses David. In Jesus’ era, a common title for the Messiah was “Son of David” as seen in Matthew 9:27. The Jews’ use of this term indicated their belief, based on prophecy, that the Messiah would come from David’s lineage «And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.», (2 Samuel 7:16). During a discussion in the temple, Jesus references Psalm 110:1, highlighting that David refers to the Messiah as “my Lord” «If David then calls him Lord, how is he his son?», (Matthew 22:45). Therefore, the Son of David surpasses David and has a lineage greater than an earthly royal line.
Jesus exceeds Solomon. King Solomon was unmatched in wisdom, wealth, power, and prestige (1 Kings 10:23-24). Monarchs from all over the world visited Jerusalem during Solomon’s reign and paid him homage. However, Jesus declared, “Something greater than Solomon is here” «The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed, a greater than Solomon is here.», (Matthew 12:42).
Jesus surpasses Jonah. The prophet Jonah played a key role in one of the most significant revivals in history. Through his preaching, the entire city of Nineveh repented of their sins and turned to God for mer.
Cy. A nation infamous for its idolatry and savagery humbled themselves in God’s eyes and turned from their paganism. Yet Jesus said, “Now someone greater than Jonah is here” «The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. », (Matthew 12:41).
Jesus is greater than John the Baptist. Jesus said that John the Baptist was “more than a prophet” and “there is no one greater than John” «But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. », (Luke 7:26,28) «For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. », (Luke 7:26,28). Indeed, John was the final prophet of the Old Testament age, he fulfilled Malachi 3:1, and he evinced a power akin to Elijah’s «And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. », (Luke 1:17). But how did John view Jesus? His prediction shows who is greater: “One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals” «and preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. », (Mark 1:7). In other words, John was not even in the same category as Jesus. John baptized with water, but Jesus would baptize
With the Holy Spirit “I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”, (Mark 1:8).
Jesus is greater than the temple. The temple in Jerusalem was a glorious place, full of history, meaning, and religious consequence (see Matthew 24:1). Yet Jesus told the Pharisees, “I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!” “But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.”, (Matthew 12:6). The temple was where the nation’s priests interceded with God, and Jesus’ ministry of intercession is far greater “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”, (Hebrews 8:6).
Jesus is greater than the Sabbath. The sign of the Mosaic Covenant was the keeping of the Sabbath “Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.”, (Ezekiel 20:12), and the Jewish people were scrupulous in maintaining this sign. When Jesus came, He lived under the Law “but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”, (Galatians 4:4), fulfilled the Law “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”, (Matthew 5:17), and showed that “the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath” “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”, (Matthew 12:8).
Jesus surpasses the church. The church comprises the chosen ones of God who have been summoned out of the world, redeemed, justified, sanctified, and glorified «Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. », (Romans 8:30). In due course, the church will become “a splendid church, without any stain or wrinkle or imperfection, but pure and faultless” «that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. », (Ephesians 5:27). However, Christ is superior. He is the Head of the church, which is His body (Colossians 1:18;cf: John 13:16; John 15:20).
Jesus exceeds the angels. Angels are God’s servants, but Jesus is God’s only Son, seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3,5;John 3:16). One day, all authorities and powers in heaven and on earth will bow before Christ «that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; », (Philippians 2:10). Jesus is “far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is greater than theirs” «being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. », (Hebrews 1:4).
Jesus’ name surpasses all other names. Jesus, the flawless Man and the solitary sacrifice for sin, has been greatly exalted. God has bestowed upon Him “the name that is above every name” «Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: », (Philippians 2:9). The names of other historical figures—Buddha, Mohammed, Gandhi, Confucius, Krishna, Joseph Smith, and Sun Myung Moon among them—diminish in significance when compared to the glory of Jesus Christ. It is the name of Jesus that we proclaim to the ends of the earth, as salvation is exclusively found in His name «Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. », (Acts 4:12).
“In Christ all the fullness of the Deity resides in bodily form” «For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. », (Colossians 2:9). Being the Word of God «In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. », (John 1:1), Jesus represents the most complete revelation from God to humanity. God could not have expressed Himself more clearly.
