An Open Ear

and an obedient life

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 15:12-17; Psalm 40:6-8; Hebrews 10:5-10

              Jesus preexisted. What that means is before He was conceived in Mary’s womb, born in Bethlehem, or walked this earth, Jesus already existed. He eternally is the Son of God. He was the eternal Son before he became the Son of Man. This uniquely true of Jesus. Even though people talk about past lives and reincarnation, preexistence is uniquely an attribute of Jesus. We had a beginning. He did not.

              The writer of Hebrews made this point when he wrote, “When Christ came into the world, he said…” (Hebrews 10:5). Assumed in that sentence is the idea of preexistence. He sees Christ as coming into the world (which means he already existed) and Jesus is speaking intelligently as he comes (having full consciousness and awareness). None of us were talking about our birth and its purpose before it happened. We were not saying anything, because we did not exist before our conception. We were neither aware of our approaching birth – a beginning point for us - nor did we have any input on the purpose of our birth.

              Jesus, on the other hand, is seen in this text as a fully aware, intelligent, conscious person who is making decisions and having sovereignty over his birth. He comes. That is a personal act of choice. He enters the world. He existed outside of and apart from it previously. He speaks. He expresses his thoughts and communicates them verbally.