Chapter 4 -JESUS CHRIST THE KEY TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

JESUS' PREHUMAN EXISTENCE

Jesus' life course might be divided into three stages.  The first began long  before he was born on the earth.  Micah 5:2 said that the Messiah's origin was "from early times, from the days of time indefinite."  And Jesus plainly said that he had come from "the realms above,"  that is, from heaven.  (John 8:23; 16:28)  how long  had he existed in heaven before coming to the earth?

Jesus was called God's  "only-begotten Son"  because Jehovah created him directly.  (John 3:16)  As "the first-born of all creation,"  Jesus was then  used by God to create all other things.  (Colossians 1:15; Revelation 3:14)  John 1:1 says that "the Word" (Jesus in his prehuman existence) was with God "in the beginning."  So the Word was with Jehovah when "the heavens and the earth" were created.  God was addressing the Word when He said:  "Let  us make man in our image."  (Genesis 1:1, 26)  Likewise, the Word must have been God's beloved "master worker," described at Proverbs 8:22-31 as wisdom personified, laboring at Jehovah's side in the making of all things.  After Jehovah brought him into existence, the Word spent ages with God in heaven before becoming a man on earth.

No wonder Colossians 1:15  calls Jesus "the image of the invisible God?!  Through untold years of close association,the obedient Son came to be just like his Father, Jehovah.  This is another reason why Jesus is the key to  the life-giving knowledge of God. Everything Jesus did while on earth is exactly what Jehovah would have done.  Hence, getting to know Jesus also means increasing our knowledge of Jehovah.  (John 8:28; 14:8-10) Clearly, then, it is vital to learn more about Jesus Christ.

Next time: JESUS' LIFE COURSE ON EARTH

The Book - KNOWLEDGE That Leads To Everlasting Life, 1995