This is part 1 of a series exploring how the Bible teaches that Jesus was greater than all who came before him.  This series is not intended to be exhaustive.  The topic of Jesus as “greater than” or “better” than those who came before him is inexhaustible.  Libraries could and should be written on this subject.  But we have attempted in these pages to explore what such a rich subject would look like. (Each entry is excerpted from There Is No Greater Love)

Christ Greater than Creation (part 1 of 2)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that was made (John 1:1, 3).

“When I consider your heavens,” David sang, “the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, what is man that you remember him, or the son of man, that you visit him?” (Psa 8:3-4).

David marveled at the creation around him. The sun, the moon, and the stars!  The world and all its wonders!  Yet all this, David knew, was only the work of God’s fingers.  God spoke the world into being.  He created innumerable galaxies with the whisper of His will.  And as John tells us, all of this was the work of Jesus—the divine Word of God who made all things in the beginning and set all things in motion by His power.

Yet the wonders of the creation are not the greatest wonder of His power.  Creation is called the work of His fingers.  But redemption is called the labor of His arm (Isa 51:9) and the travail of His soul (Isa 53:11).  Jesus will see His redemptive work, and He will be satisfied (Isa 53:11). He will satisfy Himself with rest, and His rest will be glorious (Isa 11:10).

Jesus’ power is evident in His creation.  But His power and strength are displayed even more magnificently in His redemption.  His creative work is glorious.  But His redemptive work is greater!