Jesus: Higher Than AllSample

Jesus is the First and the Last

“He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18)

Paul has already made it clear that Jesus is the Son of God who was “before all things”. But He is also “the firstborn from the dead”. He was the first human who died and rose immortal, never again to be subject to death. There were some people who were raised from the dead before (for example, Jesus raised Lazarus and the daughter of Jairus), but these people died again. Jesus did something completely unique; He conquered death.

In Revelation 1:17-18, He reveals Himself as follows: “I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”

Not only is Jesus the first to rise immortally, but He has also made it possible for people to receive this same eternal life. All believers will be raised from the dead and receive a renewed, glorious body to live in God’s presence forever together with Jesus, “each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:23). Jesus is “the beginning” and the Author, both of the natural world around us and of the new, spiritual world that is unfolding.

Do you belong to Him? Will you share in His resurrection?