“…of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.” (Romans 9:5).
Paul’s three-fold declaration about Jesus is an echo of the initial sentence of the epistle (cf. Romans 1:1-4). Regardless of where in Scripture they are found, these three glorious facts are ever deserving of thoughtful reflection and meditation.
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Christ came “according to the flesh” as the descendant/seed of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David and others. He was fully human; thus, He was called “the Son of Man”. Though it was probably not December 25th, He did have a birth day. Though He remained less than seventy-two hours in the tomb borrowed from Joseph of Arimathea, there is a date for His death. He hungered, thirsted, needed sleep, and was tempted in all points like we are. He is not a fictional or mythical character; He is a historical person whose lungs breathed Earth’s air and whose feet walked on Earth’s dusty crust.
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“Christ is over all”. Because of His perfect obedience to every jot and tittle of God’s Law and His precise fulfillment of every Old Testament prophecy concerning Him, He was resurrected on the first day of the week, a divine demonstration He is the Son of God with power (Romans 1:4). He was given all authority in heaven and on earth and ascended to heaven where He was given everlasting dominion and an indestructible kingdom (Daniel 7:13-14). The magnitude of His glory is seen in the fact that His throne sits “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:21).
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Christ is “the eternally blessed God”. He was a member of the “Us” when God created humanity in His image (Genesis 1:26). Though He laid aside the privileges of deity to come to this earth (Philippians 2:5-7), He never stopped being a member of the Triune God. He received worship (Matthew 9:18, 14:33); He knew people’s intimate thoughts and intentions (Mark 2:6-8); He performed miracles which demonstrated authority over time, distance, nature, misfortune, disease, evil spirit, and death. At this very hour, angels and all the heavenly host extol His worthiness by worshiping Him (Revelation 5:11-14).
Son of Man. Son of God. Lord over all.
Three glorious facts about Jesus.
