Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage Instead, He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow-of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth-and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 HCSB
Our Sunday School lesson last Sunday was a study of Jesus beyond the manger. This time of year we think of Jesus as the baby lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes. The baby born of a virgin to save the world.
We must be careful not to limit Jesus to the role of the babe in the manger. We must realize that Jesus was here from the beginning. We serve a triune God, this means one God in three persons. The Holy Trinity consists of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. God the Son is Jesus of course.
In Genesis 1:1 it says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Jesus was right there.
Throughout the old testament, we see what is called theophanies or more specifically Christophanies. This comes from the Greek words theos meaning of God and phaniea meaning appearance. Christophany is the appearance of Christ specifically.
In Genesis 2 when God brought the animals to Adam to be named and brought the woman to him, this was a Christophany. In Genesis 3 when God addressed Adam and Eve in the garden, this was a Christophany and also in Genesis 4 when God spoke with Cain about his sacrifice.
In Exodus chapter 3 when God spoke to Moses through the burning bush, this too was a theophany. Then when the three men appeared to Abram just before Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed, one of them was God.
In Genesis 18, Abram and Sarai had three visitors. In verse 10 it says the LORD spoke to Abram. Remember there were three visitors. We are told in verse 22 that the LORD remained with Abram while the other two men (who were angels) turned from there and went toward Sodom.
In Genesis 32, Jacob wrestled with a man until daybreak. We know this was God because He had the power to rename Jacob. In verse 28 this man tells Jacob his name will no longer be Jacob but will be Israel because he had wrested with God and prevailed.
One way to tell if the Bible is speaking of God or an angel is in the wording. If it says The Angel of the LORD appeared or came, it is referring to Jesus. If it says an angel of the LORD, it is referring to an angel.
I could go on through the Bible picking out places in the Old Testament where Jesus appeared. But I’m sure you get it. God the Father cannot be seen by man. So when it says God appeared, it is referring to Jesus. This was simplified for us in Colossians 1:15 which says, He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
We see Jesus who is fully man and fully God which is explained in our Scripture passage for today all through the New Testament. And in Revelation 1:1 it says, “The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His slaves what must quickly (or soon) take place. He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave John,”
This is a summary of our lesson from last Sunday. If you aren’t in Sunday School, you are missing some good stuff, just sayin’. I thoroughly enjoyed this study and wish I could take credit for it, but it came from the Answers in Genesis curriculum.
I wanted to share this so you could see Jesus has always been here. He is central to our lives whether or not we acknowledge His presence. This is why we must put Him first.
Being fully man and fully God, He knew what lay in store for Him when He went to be crucified. He didn’t want to go through it, but He did it in order to save you and me. Doesn’t he deserve first place in your life?
Have a great day!