JESUS … TRANSCENDENT
Jesus is transcendent, as is the Father and the Holy Spirit, for God is One. He is the expressed image of the Father. This means He is beyond and above the range of exceptional and supernatural. Existing. He is the Great Existence, existing apart from, and not subject to, anything else and deriving His essence from no one, nowhere, at no time. Existing apart from time, space, and matter. He is, therefore, immanent, meaning He is pervading and sustaining the universe but not sustained by it.
He is Surpassing – not just above, not just beyond, but ultimately other. Indescribable, incomparable. Unlike anything. Unrivaled. Unchallenged. Unshaken.
To whom will you liken me? To whom will you make me equal? No one, Lord. There is none like you. You are incomparable, incomparable in glory, in nature, in power.
Jesus is better!
Better than the prophets.
Better than the angels.
Better than Moses.
He has a better Glory.
He has a better Covenant.
He has a better freedom.
He has a better deliverance.
He has a better Rest.
He has a better Hope.
He has a better peace.
He has a better life.
He has a better sabbath.
He has a better way.
He has a better ministry.
His blood is better than Abel’s.
His blood is better than spotless lambs, bulls, and goats.
He has a better anointing.
He has better promises.
He has a better future.
He has a better inheritance.
He has a better blessing.
He has a better glory.
He is a better way.
He is a better Apostle.
He is a better High Priest.
He is better than David.
He is better than Aaron.
He is better than Abraham.
He is better than Melchizedek.
Jesus is not just a good character in the Bible; He is the centerpiece, the focus, the fulfillment of all Scriptures. He is the answer to the Father’s redemptive plan. He is the provision for all humanity and history’s recovery. He is the Savior. The volume of the Book is all about Him. From Moses, through the law and prophets, it is Jesus! He is everywhere. He is high noon, the sun shining on a cloudless day. He is not another prophet; He is THE Prophet. He is not another king; He is THE King. He is not another priest; He is THE Priest. He is not just a good example; He is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life. He is not a figure, not a son of Adam, but the Son of Man, the Son of God – The Word made Flesh!
From Him, by Him, and through Him, the broken are healed, the corrupt are made holy, the fallen are restored, the lost are found, and the dead are made alive.
FROM HIM, we have hope, a future, good news, and life.
BY HIM, we have redemption, peace with God, and victory over Satan.
THROUGH HIM, we have holiness, righteousness, glory, and sanctification.
Jesus Christ Himself is the final exegesis of all truth. He is all that we need to know about God, and He is all that we need to know about man. Jesus – One with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped after; but stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity] so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that HE became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! (Phil 2:6-8).
Jesus is man in perfection – God in humility. He was in the beginning – God. He is now – God. He will forevermore be – God. He was in the past – man. He is now – man. He shall forevermore be – man. He is no more than His Father. He is no less than the Holy Spirit. Though incarnate as man, He is eternally God. Equal, co-existing with the Father and with the Spirit. He was perfect in a fallen world. He was pure in an impure world. He was meek in a harsh and quarrelsome world. He was last when everyone else wanted to be first. He served when everyone else wanted to be served. He sought only God’s will when everyone else sought their own will. He laid His life down when everyone else was trying to save theirs. God could look upon all the men, and only in that ONE MAN could God see His perfect reflection!