The Greater One

Greater Than Abraham

"Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?" (John 8: 53)

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad...I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him..." (8: 56-59)

Greater Than Jacob

"Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4: 12-14)

Greater Than Solomon

"The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here." (Matthew 12: 42)

Greater Than Jonah

"The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here." (Matthew 12: 41)

Greater Than The Baptist

"Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least (later) in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matthew 11: 11)

Greater Than The Temple

"But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple." (Matthew 12: 6)

Superiority of Christ as seen in the Book of Hebrews

Chapter One

1. Christ is greater than the prophets and patriarchs.
2. Christ is greater than the angels of God.

Chapter Two

1. Christ is greater than angels (repeated)
2. Christ is greater than every man
3. Christ is greater than the church

Chapter Three

1. Christ is the greater apostle
2. Christ is the greater high priest
3. Christ is greater than Moses

Chapter Four

1. Christ is greater than Joshua
2. Christ is greater than David

Chapter Five

1. Christ is greater than Melchisedec
2. Christ is greater than Aaron

Christ is the Superman. He is "greater than all." Though the men and things mentioned in the above verses are great men and things (the temple), yet "Christ outshines them all." They are but types of him, but even all of them combined do not tell us the fullness of who he is in his person.

Abraham was known by his "fatherhood" and by his being chosen as a mediator and revelator of the mind and will of God. Jesus fulfills, in his person, these qualities, for he is "the everlasting father" (Isaiah 9: 6), and the "one mediator between God and man" (I Timothy 2: 5), and certainly the supremely great revealor of the mind of God.

Jacob was especially known in the Old Testament as God's "elect," the one God chose, instead of his brother. "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." So too is Jesus chiefly and foremost God's "elect," the one God supremely loves above all others. We are only "elect" and loved as we are viewed in him.

Solomon was especially known for his glory, for the great sovereignty he exercised and for the vast dominions that were under his rule. His rule is also known as a time of great peace in Israel. Christ is greater than Solomon in glory and in the majesty, sovereignty and extent of his rule.

Jonah was known for his experience of three days and three nights in the darkness of the fish's belly, and for his resurrection therefrom, as well as the great consequence of his preaching the message of repentance.

Christ is the fulfillment of the Jonah experience, for he, in a greater way, was "in the heart of the earth," dead in body, and yet came forth three days and nights later. Christ is the greatest prophet.

John the Baptist was a preacher of righteousness who announced the arrival of the Lord, just as a royal messenger of olden times also did prior to his Lordship's visit to another land. Truly John the Baptist mirrored the Lord Jesus.

These all were types and forerunners of Christ, just as was Adam, Enoch, Melchisedec, Moses, Joseph, David, Ezekiel, Daniel, etc.

Friend, if you have not yet believed in Christ, in his person and work, is it not because you do not understand or accept what is declared by him in the holy scriptures? I pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal to you the truth of who is Jesus and of what he means to this world.

"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1: 18)