By Bob Dodson
The “inspired word of God” (2 Tim. 3:16-17) pays royal tribute unto God’s “grand and glorious” son as the “one and only” big name preacher who ever graced this earth by His “sinless life and truthful message” (1 John 3:5; John 18:37). The purpose of this article is to “glorify” the Lord Jesus Christ and “praise” Him for the monumental achievements that He accomplished. There never has been nor ever shall be “another gospel preacher” that reached the pinnacles of “divine approval” as did Jesus Christ (Matt. 17:5). Below you will find listed for your consideration and study many of these great and notable deeds which the Lord “only” has performed, and which none other could ever do (Acts 2:22-24). It is our prayer and desire that this study will lead us to using the expression “big name preacher” correctly. Since in “all things” Jesus Christ does have preeminence according to Scripture (Col. 1:18), He most assuredly is preeminent among “gospel preachers.” He “alone” deserves this exaltation and none shall ever be his “equal!” For us to refer to “mere mortal” (that is any gospel preacher of the past, present, or future) as the big name preacher surely constitutes “robbery!” This “robs” Jesus Christ of His distinction of being worthy of “all” glory, and honor, and praise, and blessing (Rev. 5:9-12). He alone has a “name” that is above every other name (Acts 4:12).
Origination
The beloved apostle Paul declared by the Spirit that Jesus Christ was the architect and builder of this great universe (Col. 1:15-17). He surely did “create the heavens and the earth and all things therein!” He is both the originator of the universe, and the “original” cause of all creation (John 1:1-4). His work as the Creator gives Him the right to be “blessed forever” (Rom. 1:25). This “monumental task” absolutely beyond measure “evidences” His everlasting power and deity (Rom. 1:20). Moreover this big name preacher “upholds all things” (sustains this living and intelligent universe) by the “Word of His power” (Heb. 1:3)!
Predestination
John the beloved reveals the “high and holy” purpose of the Son of God as that of “destroying ‘the Devil and his works” (1 John 3:8). Jesus Christ was “predestined for greatness” by virtue of the most important “task” and most difficult “task” ever given to anyone in the history of “time” (Heb. 2:9-15)! He met every challenge that He faced in the form of “temptation” and was found without sin (Heb. 4:15). He fought with Satan and “bound him” and He “spoiled his goods” (Matt. 12:27-30). He was God’s prophet (Deut. 18:15-22) who revealed unto “mankind” the exceeding riches of God’s grace (Eph. 2:4-10). He fulfilled God’s eternal purpose in building and establishing the “church” of Christ (Eph. 3:1-11) which is the “Kingdom of God” (Col. 1:13-14). Jesus Christ was “predestined for supremacy” and never once faltered in obeying His Father, and hence God has exalted Him and given Him a name greater than all others (Acts 4:12)! This big name preacher “heads” all principalities and powers (1 Pet. 3:22).
Divestation
Truly the “greatest” account of humility in all history is that of Jesus Christ manifesting “sacrifice without equality” (Phil. 2:5-11). He “emptied” Himself of being deity and clothed Himself with the “likeness” of humanity. The great Creator became the “creature” (Gen. 1:26-28). Being God He was to be served, but He became Himself a “servant” in order to die for the sins of men (Matt. 26:28). This is truly “divestation without. limitation” (2 Cor. 8:9)! He was truly rich but for the sake of sinful man He became poor, that man might through His poverty become “rich” indeed spiritually! He “humbled Himself” and became obedient unto the “death of the cross.” Surely He does possess the right to demand of us to “deny ourselves” to follow Him (Luke 9:23). This big name preacher “tasted of death” for every man (Heb. 2:9).
Foreordination
The apostle Peter declared by the Spirit that Jesus Christ was “foreordained” before the foundations of the world to be the “atonement” for the sins of mankind (1 Pet. 1:18-20). John the Baptist said as he beheld Jesus walking, “Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Let us thank God that He has laid upon His Son the “iniquity of us all” (Is. 53:3-6). The “vicarious death” of the Lord Jesus Christ was a product of the “determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:22-24). Every event in the history of this world is “centered” around Jesus Christ as God purposed to “sum up all things” in Him (Eph. 1:10). Everyone who chooses to obey the “gospel of Christ” (Rom. 1:16-17) is adopted by God through God’s Son (Eph. 1:3-7). This big name preacher fulfilled every “prophecy” of Him (Luke 24:44).
Legislation
One of God’s seers prophesied that Jesus Christ would be a “governor” (Micah 5:2). Another great prophet of God said that the “government would be upon his shoulder” (Is. 9:6-7). He was prophesied to be the “governor” of the Kingdom of God that Daniel mentioned in his great book (Dan. 2:44). In the New Testament we find that the Lord Jesus Christ “openly states” that the “church” of Christ, is the Kingdom of God (Matt. 16:18-19). He was also prophesied to be the “governor” or ruler of the Kings of the earth (Ps. 2:512). Therefore, in “essence” Jesus Christ is the “legislator” of the “entire universe”, and His will surely “legislates” every event according to his divine providence (Rev. 1:5-7). He has “legislated” His will for all mankind in that which is called the “gospel of Christ” (Rom. 1:16-17). His “legislation” is law and must be obeyed by everyone in order to obtain everlasting life and escape eternal punishment (2 Thess. 1:7-9). This big name preacher will judge all (2 Cor. 5:10-11)!
Proclamation
In prophecy Jesus Christ is announced to be God’s messenger who would “proclaim” liberty from sin for a “sin-cursed world” (Is. 61:1-3). He is most assuredly God’s divine “proclaimer” (Luke 4:16-19) of the “mercy and long-suffering” of God toward man (2 Pet. 3:15). His “proclaimation” is the truth that sets men free from sin (John 8:31-32). Jesus Christ did “proclaim” very beautifully and accurately the way and the truth and the life that will lead each man from earth to heaven (John 14:6). This “heavenly proclaimator” has provided all mankind a “spiritual roadmap” that will lead them to everlasting happiness with God (Rev. 22:14). This map (New Testament) is so simple and easy to follow that “way-faring men though fools, should not err therein” (Is. 35:8). In this big name preacher is “hidden” all of God’s wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). Jesus Christ “proclaimed” that everyone who “hears his words and obeys them” is wise. But everyone who “hears his sayings and rejects them” is foolish (Matt. 7:24-27).
Interpretation
Truly the divine “announcement” from the angel of the Lord, concerning the Lord Jesus Christ at His birth, signifies His “greatness” (Matt. 1:18-23). He was called Emmanuel which is interpreted “God with us!” This was in fulfillment of (Isa. 7:14). The “God of eternity” (Ps. 90:1-2) became flesh and “dwelt among men” (John 1:14). He interpreted unto man the great “mystery of godliness” (1 Tim. 3:16). He is the “word” (John 1:1-2) who became “incarnate in man!” He “interpreted perfectly” God’s precepts unto man through the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:9-13). This big name preacher surely interpreted unto man “God’s righteousness and true holiness” (Eph. 4:13-24).
Personification
Jesus Christ “personified” deity on this earth, as He progressed through the “land of the living” (Heb. 1:1-3). His every thought and word and deed was a glorious tribute to the “majestic righteousness” of God (Eph. 4:20-24). Every personal circumstance of His life reflected that “God is no respector of persons” (Matt. 22:15-16). His “overwhelming compassion” for the sinner never caused the Lord to compromise the truth about “sin” (John 8:3-11). He truly could and did “read the hearts and the minds of men” (Mark 2:1-11) which is a “peculiar trademark” of God and Him “only” according to the scriptures (1 John 3:20)! As the “ambassador” of His Father, He certainly “personified” the greatest of truths (John 3:16-21). Truly Jesus Christ spoke the truth when He said that “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:7-9). Indeed the Lord “personified” deity through His condemnation of the “hypocrisy” of the “scribes and Pharisees” (Matt. 23:139)! This big name preacher demonstrated always that He “loved righteousness and hated iniquity” (Heb. 1:89)!
Determination
It has been said that “the worth and value of someone” can best be determined by the amount of opposition that it takes to defeat him. Jesus Christ passes this great test with “flying colors”, for our Lord never “gave place to the Devil” (Eph. 4:27). He was “more determined” to glorify His Father in heaven and do His will, than Satan was “determined” to deceive Christ and cause Him to “sin” (Matt. 4:1-10). It was by “sheer determination” that Jesus Christ was able to “die for the sins of men” apart from any assistance from His Father (Matt. 27:46). His “concentration” on the goal set before Him never waned (1 Pet. 2:21-24). By intensive determination He was the big name preacher who endured the cross, while despising the shame (Heb. 12:13)!
Authorization
Jesus Christ taught people as one “having” authority and not as the scribes (Matt. 7:28-29). He cast out the strongest and meanest of evil spirits by the awesome “power” of His word (Mark 1:27). He is the “possessor” of all “authority” in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:1820). He delegated this “authority” in some measure to His apostles when He directed them to “go into all the world and preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15-16). Jesus Christ said that “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not (this command) shall be damned!” Jesus Christ is the “author and perfecter” of the people on earth who chose to obey His teaching (Heb. 12:1-2). His divine “authority” comes from the Father and those who fail to heed His “doctrine” sever themselves from grace (Gal. 5:4, 2 John 9). When this big name preacher comes to judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31), He will have “put down” all rule and authority and power (1 Cor. 15:24). The last enemy “death” also will be destroyed by Him that hath the “keys of death and of hades” (Rev. 1:17-18).
Recognition
He “fully realized” that the scripture cannot be “broken” (John 10:34). Time and again He pointed to Himself and the events that transpired in His life as the “fulfilling” of the “scriptures” (Luke 24:44-49). He was able to “recognize” every appearance of evil that Satan sent against Him and resisted the Devil (1 Thess. 5:22, Jas. 4:6-8). He certainly “recognized” the need for continual learning of God’s divine laws (Luke 2:40,52). He amazed the lawyers in the Temple with His knowledge and wisdom of God’s word (Luke 2:42-48). This big name preacher possessed perfect recognition of His goal while He walked in the flesh (John 12:23-27).
Truth Magazine XXII: 34, pp. 549-550
August 31, 1978