We live in a society that creates, absorbs, and understands printed images. Ever wonder why Andy Warhol's portrait of Marilyn Monroe, or the painting of the Campbell's Tomato Soup Can have such wide social recognition? They're enigmatic, and as such, represent a part of our greater common social experience as Americans. I'm sure we find that frustrating at times, but it's also very cool, and quite brilliant that simple images can bear such ramifications on our consciousness. Take Superman for example, we see that red and yellow S and automatically understand that powerful aide is on it's way to somebody in need. Think about that for just a second, in some way we all have impressed on our consciousness that we need somebody, somebody transcendent, to rescue us from danger and despair. I'm using this image of Superman as an introduction because I think it relates to Jesus in a very interesting way. When we think of Superman we don't imagine him eating dinner, or buying groceries. We think of him flying over Metropolis, or traveling through time by making the Earth spin backwards, it's as if he's always bursting out of a celluloid phone booth to save us from evil. We don't really separate super-heroes from what they do. We ought to have the same mindset when it comes to Jesus. Bearing that in mind, this blog about the role of the Son in the Covenant of Redemption is going to have two major parts: A Christological part (discussing the nature of Jesus' deity and humanity), and a Soteriological part (concerning how it is that the Christian is saved).
Christology
Diving right in, we see throughout the epistles of the New Testament that the Son of God is not just eternal (which is human), but infinite (which is Divine)*. The first chapter of John's Gospel portrays Jesus Christ as being God (possessing unity), and being with God (having a distinct person) "in the beginning." Jn. 1. esv. Where else do we find the phrase "In the beginning"? Genesis 1. That's an important detail to notice because on of John's major themes throughout his Gospel is the re-creation of man in and through Jesus Christ*. More to the point John gives us a picture of the role of Jesus as the Son of God prior to, and during the creation of the cosmos. We also see numerous mentions of Jesus prior to creation in Paul and Peter's epistles. Take Colossians 1:15-17 for example:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
I'll be honest, I don't often picture Jesus the way that Paul describes him here. I'm on track with the whole image of the invisible God thing, but the rest of the content regarding Creation really kind of baffles me. That being said, there are a few things that I want to highlight; first being the phrase "Firstborn of all Creation". There are several ways to see this, and I think all of them hold water. The first that stands out, is the idea of Christ's position, or eminence. In the ancient world, firstborn's were the one's who received the family inheritance, they held a sort of power over their siblings, and a responsibility (as they grew older) for the family estate, they also held a ambassador-like status often. The second way of looking at it is pretty plain and simple. Jesus (the Son) is the first born; he precedes or pre-dates us. Simply put, we see that Christ is infinite, and sovereign. Also note that Paul calls him the firstborn of all creation (emphasis added), including both Earth (the cosmos), and Heaven. Paul is stating clearly that Jesus is more than eternal, He is a member of the infinite triune God.
As if all of that wasn't enough we've a few more things to consider out of this passage before we wrap up this discussion pertaining the nature of the Son of God. We can also note the sense of action, and possession of creation from Paul's christology in Colossians. "For by him all things were created"; The son is the acting part of Creation, I think this notion harmonizes John's Gospel and the Creation account of Genesis quite well. Looking back at the first few chapters of Genesis we see a pattern: God speaks, and things exist. Now, John's Gospel does a few interesting things for us in this regard. First, he refers to Jesus as "the Word", and then outlines that the Word possess unity to, and distinction from the Father simultaneously. If God's Creation involves speaking, we cannot overlook the way John portrays Jesus as the Word, especially when both are held in light of what Paul has to say in his letter to the Colossian Church. If all things were created by the Son, than the Son's description in John's Gospel as the word of God is profoundly important. It also adds depth to the notion of the Father's declaration as well.
I'm going to pause here, and see if any of you readers any question about these concepts before we move on to soteriology.
*We don't often consider our eternal nature as beings, but we ought to. Our existence will continue to exist throughout eternity, but we at some point came into being. The differences between eternal, and infinite lies with the idea of creation. God is an uncreated being, he always has been, and always will be. Whereas you and I have not always been, but now that we are....we will continue to be.
*The Apostle John managed to encapsulate the redemptive history of God within the his Gospel. Consider the parallel between John 1 and the creation account in Genesis, John's structure to his Gospel also outlines how the Law served to point Old Testament Jews to Christ by using certain Feast Day, or Festival events to outline specifically how Jesus Christ fulfilled what the Old Testament law required, and anticipated. Information which I have gleaned from Ridderbos's commentary on John's Gospel
