The Bible is not a collection of random stories or moral teachings; it is one unified narrative that points to Jesus Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, Jesus is the central figure, the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world, and the Lord of all creation. He is preeminent—above all things, before all things, and the One through whom all things exist.
In John 5:39, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, saying: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” The Pharisees knew the Scriptures well, but they missed the very One to whom the Scriptures pointed. Every book, prophecy, and promise in the Bible ultimately points to Jesus Christ.
Jesus, the Preeminent One: Lord Over All Creation
Paul beautifully describes the preeminence of Jesus in Colossians 1:15-20:
“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)
This passage emphasizes several key truths:
- Jesus is the image of the invisible God: He is God made manifest, the exact representation of His nature (Hebrews 1:3).
- He is the Creator: All things were created through Him and for Him (John 1:1-3).
- He is before all things: Jesus is eternal, existing before the creation of the world (John 8:58).
- In Him all things consist: He sustains the universe by His powerful word (Hebrews 1:3).
Jesus is the Fulfillment of Scripture
From the very beginning of the Bible, Jesus is present. In Genesis 3:15, God promises that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head—a prophecy fulfilled in Christ’s victory over sin and death. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, as He declared in Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
Consider these examples of Christ as the fulfillment throughout Scripture:
- The Passover Lamb: Jesus is the true Passover Lamb, whose blood saves us from the wrath of God (1 Corinthians 5:7; John 1:29).
- The Bronze Serpent: As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:14-15).
- The Rock in the Wilderness: Paul tells us that the Rock from which Israel drank in the desert was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4).
- The Good Shepherd: Jesus declares in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” He fulfills the prophecy of Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34.
Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life
Jesus makes a bold declaration in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” This statement is not only exclusive but also highlights His unique role in God’s redemptive plan:
- The Way: Jesus is the only path to reconciliation with God (Acts 4:12).
- The Truth: Jesus is the full revelation of God’s character and His plan for humanity (John 1:14; John 18:37).
- The Life: In Him is eternal life; He is the source of all life, both physical and spiritual (John 10:28; 1 John 5:11-12).
Jesus: The Door and the Shepherd
In John 10:7-9, Jesus said: “I am the door of the sheep. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” As the Door, Jesus is the only entry point into the Kingdom of God. He is the access point to eternal life and the protector of His people.
Jesus is also the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep (John 10:11). He knows His sheep by name, and they follow Him because they know His voice. This intimate relationship illustrates His care and authority over those who belong to Him.
The Heir of All Things
Hebrews 1:1-2 declares: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.”
Jesus is not only the Creator but also the rightful heir of all creation. Everything exists for His glory, and He will inherit all things (Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 5:13).
The Preeminence of Jesus in Redemption
The entire narrative of the Bible is a story of redemption, and Jesus is the central figure. In Revelation 13:8, He is called “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” His sacrificial death on the cross was the plan of God from the very beginning.
In Philippians 2:8-11, we see Christ’s exaltation: “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 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.”
Jesus: The Alpha and the Omega
In Revelation 22:13, Jesus declares: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” Jesus stands outside of time, the eternal God who is the beginning of all things and the end. He is the fulfillment of all prophecy, the consummation of God’s plan, and the eternal King who will reign forever.
The Supremacy of Jesus in All Things
Paul sums it up perfectly in Colossians 1:18: “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” The word “preeminence” means to hold the highest rank, to be first in all things. Jesus is not just a part of the story; He is the story. He is Lord of lords and King of kings (Revelation 19:16).
My Final Thoughts
Understanding the preeminence of Jesus Christ calls us to worship Him as Lord of all. He is the fulfillment of the Scriptures, the Creator of the universe, the Redeemer of our souls, and the eternal King. Our response should be one of adoration, submission, and proclamation of His glory.
As we read and study the Bible, let us remember that every page points us to Jesus. He is the treasure hidden in the field, the pearl of great price, and the One for whom all things were made. May we proclaim, like the Apostle Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
