Considering Jesus (2)
Jay Horsley
Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) He is called, in several ways, the beginning and the end of things as well as the “amen,” the truth.
- Rev. 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
- Rev. 21:6 “And He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.”
- Rev. 22:13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
“Alpha” was the first letter of the Greek alphabet (in fact we see that word “alpha” in “alphabet”) and “omega” was the last letter of the Greek alphabet. Jesus is the “A” and “Z,” or the “beginning and the end.” In fact, these very words are used in Rev. 22:13.
- Rev. 22:13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Jesus is from the beginning and will be at the end. In fact, He is before the beginning and will be after the end. He is the summation and purpose of all as well as the creator and sustainer of it.
- Rev. 3:14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:”
Yes, the creation began with Him because He created it, but He is also the most important part of the creation.
- Rev 1:17 “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,”
- Rev. 2:8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:”
- Rev. 22:13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
These continual descriptions of Jesus as being from beginning to end and first to last affirm His divinity, eternality, power. But I believe that they especially convey to us preeminence. Paul sums up the preeminence of Christ in everything in Col. 1. “And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.” (Col. 1:15-18)
- Rev. 3:14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:”
Amen means “true” or “steadfast and firm.” We say “amen” to signal our assent to the fact that what we have heard is true. We most often do this after prayers. Jesus is our statement of confirming truth. By Him, His life, character, power and promises we know the truth. 2 Cor. 1:20 “For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.” What we know of Him is our confidence to believe every promise of God. Whatever God has said can be “amen'ed” (stated and fully known as true) because of Jesus. The more we consider of him the more out confidence in the complete truth of all that God has spoken to us.
Surely we should consider these things about Jesus. As we do our confidence in Him and our faithfulness will grow.