Logos

Who is Jesus, was He man, God or both? That is the question that many religious leaders, peasants, kings and political figures have entertained for the past 2000 years. Jesus was born from an earthly woman who became pregnant through the over shadowing of the Holy Spirit. God the Father declared Jesus to be His beloved Son in whom He was well pleased. Many people believe Jesus to be only an angel, an enlightened soul,  a good teacher or a prophet sent by God. Jesus Himself claimed to be the only way to get to the Father John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” 

The gospel of John refers to Him as the “Logos” or “Word” and that He created everything in this universe. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” 

So from just a couple of sections of scripture-text we can discern that Jesus was God’s only Son, He was God-with-us here on earth and claimed to be the only way to the Father. In Hebrews 1:2,3 we learn that God spoke to us through His Son who made the worlds, was the brightness of His glory  and was the expressed image of the Father. The Greek word for “Expressed image” is the idea of putting a signet ring into hot wax where the exact form of the ring is duplicated in the wax producing a seal authenticating the sender. 

The Hebrew text goes on to say that Jesus became so much better than the angels. If these verses are trustworthy concerning Jesus than we should be able to see Him make appearances in the Old Testament. In Numbers 21 we get a glimpse at one of those appearances or what scholars call a “Christophany” where the pre-existent Christ appears and spiritually intervenes. 

The story of Balaam, the donkey and the Angel of the Lord is very interesting on many levels. Balaam disobeys God and decides to take the job Balak is offering him which is to curse the Israelites who are camped on the east side of the Jordan River. As Balaam is riding his donkey The Angel of the Lord (the pre-incarnate Christ) stands in his way with sword drawn. Just like us, Balaam couldn’t see the spiritual battle that was raging on all around him but the donkey could and stopped in his tracks. We know that from Numbers 21:31 that when Balaam’s eyes were opened He saw the Angel of the Lord and the text says that he bowed his head, fell flat on his face and worshipped.  

In Revelation 5:1-14 we get a glimpse of this same person, the Angel of the Lord, as He is worshipped by the Elders and all who were around His throne. Back in the story of Balaam and the donkey we watch as Balaam himself falls flat on his face and worships the Angel of the Lord (the pre-incarnate Christ).  Every time regular angels encounter men, the men usually end up bowing down before them and worshipping them. But In every case the angels instruct them not to do that. They instruct them that they are only messengers and to worship the One who sent them.  

Have you ever wondered, while reading in the Christmas story, how the wise men knew to travel to Jerusalem in search of the King of Glory? Remember they followed His star and it stood still over the Mary’s son Jesus. Balaam’s fourth prophecy found in Numbers 24:17 is profound “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,”  

Balaam while not being our first choice as prophet is used by God to add yet another piece to the Messianic puzzle. It’s clear that these wise men from the East were well aware a great king was coming and were actively looking for this prophecy of Balaam’s. They actively searched night after night for the star in the night sky that would one day lead us all to the King of all kings. 

When the star appeared the wise men began a long and tedious journey that led them to Jesus. While out in the fields shepherds listened as angels heralded in the birth of the Christ child.  It is clear from Hebrews 1:2-4 that Jesus is unique in the universe “when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”