Jesus: Greater Than All

Jesus is greater than all.  We know the exception to this is God the Father.  The Bible teaches that they are both equally divine.  However, the Father is the head of the Son (1 Cor. 11:3; cf. 15:27, 28).  Beyond this, Jesus is greater than all—and our example.

Jesus is greater than Jonah.  Jesus told the Jews “a greater than Jonah is here” (Matt. 12:41).  Jonah was a sign to the people and had great effect through his preaching on the Gentile city of Nineveh.  Jesus would be a sign and His preaching was powerful.  Yet, the Jews in general rejected One who spent three days and nights in the heart of the earth.  The sign of Christ far exceeds the sign of Jonah.

Jesus is greater than Solomon.  Jesus rebuked the Jews for not recognizing Him and said the “queen of the South” would condemn their generation because “she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here” (Matt. 12:42).  The wisdom of the Lord far exceeds Solomon’s wisdom.

Jesus is greater than Abraham.  Beyond dispute, Abraham was a great man.  He was called the friend of God (2 Chron. 20:7).  His faith is put before us as an example (Heb. 11:8-19).  Abraham, though, was a man; Jesus is the I AM (Jn. 8:48-59; cf. Ex. 3:14).  Abraham’s glory and notoriety stems from the Messiah, not the other way around.  The faith of Jesus far exceeds the faith of Abraham.

Jesus is greater than Jacob.  The Samaritan woman incredulously asked Jesus if He was greater than Jacob (Jn. 4:12).  Jacob was a great man who played a vital role in God’s plan of redemption.  His named was changed to Israel, prince with God (Gen. 32:28).  Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6).  The royalty of Jesus far exceeds the “royalty” of Jacob.

Jesus is greater than His disciples.  Christians sometimes esteem themselves more highly than they ought.  Jesus, to teach a lesson on humility and servitude, washed the disciples’ feet.  He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who sent greater than he who sent him” (Jn. 13:16).  We need to have the proper estimation of ourselves, realizing that if King Jesus can humble Himself to be a servant, so can we.  The Savior is greater than His servants.

That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 1:9

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Worship In The Age of Showbusiness
By Dan Chambers