Introduction What a blessing
it is, when we have friends on whom we can depend! A
true friend will joyfully sing with you when you are
on the mountaintop, and silently walk beside you through
the valley.
A real friend warms you by his presence, trusts you
with his secrets, and remembers you in his prayers.
A true friend is forever a friend. There was, of course,
a period when every friendship began; some friend may
be a recent one, while others are long time friends
In our text a friend, who was before all other friends,
addresses us
Here is a friend who loved us before we knew the love
of a mother. One who loved us before we were even conscious
of our own existence.
He ever says to His own "I have loved you with
an everlasting love" Jesus is indeed the first.
How many of those, who
were first in our lives, are not the last, for they
have long since passed from our view? Only a few of
the friends of youth remain. How many of our fondest
attachments of life have run like rivers into the desert,
and have been lost in the sands of time? But, Here we
have a Friend who will still be there at the close of
life. One who will remain while others have passed away,
for-Jesus is the Last.
Amid the passing years
and the passing forms of our loved ones, and the changing
scenes of life, how wonderful and comforting it is to
know that Jesus is the first and the last. A true friend,
who is forever a friend. There is not a friend like
Jesus.
Let us consider this
lovely name of His- A Name that covers all the Past,
Present and future.
JESUS THE FIRST
1. His Pre-existence...
Jesus, being the first,
expresses His eternal Pre-existence. We find Him constantly
declaring this in the Gospel of John.
The witness of John the Baptist to Him was, "He
was before me" John: 30.
He testifies of Himself "I came from the Father
and entered the world"
His answer to the questions from the Jewish leaders
was "before Abraham was I am"
John 16:28
In the Old Testament we have some lovely pictures of
the eternal Christ. Isaiah's picture of Jesus, the First-
Isa 9:6 "For unto
us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name
shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
The everlasting Father-(the Father of eternity)
Let us read what the
Lord has to say concerning Himself in the book of Proverbs,
through the inspired utterance of Solomon.
Prov 8:22-31
The LORD possessed me
in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or
ever the earth was.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when
there were no fountains abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills
was I brought forth:
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,
nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set
a compass upon the face of the depth:
When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened
the fountains of the deep:
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters
should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the
foundations of the earth:
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I
was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my
delights were with the sons of men. (KJV)
Solomon's thoughts took
wing, and his words take us out beyond the confines
of time and space, as the Holy Spirit draws aside the
Veil to show us "Jesus the First" abiding
with the Godhead.
We are taken back, for a moment, to a place and time
when God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit
dwelt together in all their wisdom-before their works
began. This is how long Jesus has been our Friend.
Standing at the beginning, of time we behold the vast
ocean of eternity and Jesus our Friend and the Captain
of our Salvation is there and His delight is with the
sons of men. In His heart was love for the world of
men, whom He would come to redeem in the fullness of
time. Jesus, the First and the Last, is the Friend of
Sinners.
Jesus is the same forever-
As of old, so now today All the hosts of hell endeavours
Vainly to obstruct His way But Jesus still His power
retaineth And saves His people from their sins
JESUS THE FIRST
1. His Pre-existence...
2. His Pre-eminence
The "First"
would also express His Pr-eminence. John the Baptist
said of Jesus "He must increase and I must decrease"
The Apostle Paul takes this on board when writing to
the Church at Colosse.
Col 1:18 "And he is the head of the body, the church:
who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that
in all things he might have the pre eminence."
It is the Purpose of
God the Father, that His Son should have the Pre-eminence.
He is Deity! He is higher than all men! Than all angels!
He is God of very God, the brightness of the Father's
glory, and the express image of His person! He is King
of Kings and Lord of Lord's.
Yet, this is the one who is the Faithful Friend of His
people, and will continue to be for He is the "First
and the last" He is the One who has paid the Ransom
in full to Redeem our souls. The welfare of our precious
souls is in divine and infinite hands.
With Paul we can say
2 Tim 1:12 for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded
that he is able to keep that which I have committed
unto him against that day."
God is never defeated.
Though he may be opposed, attacked, resisted, still
the ultimate outcome can never be in doubt. Therefore,
what we have committed unto the one who is the first
and the last is eternally safe.
The Grace of the Infinite One, who is our Friend, is
sufficient, not only for our Salvation, but for our
eternal security.
Jesus, who is the "First and the Last", Must
ever have the Pre-eminence in the lives of His people.
We must bring forth the Royal Diadem and crown Him Lord
of all, bowing before Him in obedience.
Like one of old we would pray---
Teach us, good Lord,
to serve Thee as Thou deservest To give and not to count
the cost; To fight and not to heed the wounds; To toil
and not to seek for rest; To labour and not to ask for
any reward save that of knowing that we do thy will.
JESUS THE FIRST-
His Pre-eminence....
A. His Pre-eminence-In
Relation to Creation...
Paul expresses this thought
in his epistle to the Colossians. "For by him were
all things created, that are in heaven, and that are
in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones,
or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things
were created by him, and for him:" Col 1:17 "And
he is before all things, and by him all things consist."
Col 1:16
Paul underscores Christ's
relationship to Natural Creation, and to the affairs
of Providence. By His hand the Material universe was
formed, and it is by His constant superintendence, the
whole machinery of providence is maintained. By Him
all things consist!
Jesus, the First and the Last, is the force that holds
the universe in order and harmony. "All power is
given unto Him in heaven and in earth"-- None can
stay His hand or ask Him "What are you doing"?
There is a Throne set in heaven and the one, who is
seated on the Throne, is the One who is "First
and Last" All angels, and all Creation sing with
adoring reverence and love.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power,
and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and
glory, and blessing." Rev 5:1
Rev 5:13 "And every creature which is in heaven,
and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are
in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto
him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb
for ever and ever."
A. His Pre-eminence---Relation
to Creation...
B. His Pre-eminence Relation
to Revelation...
Jesus is first in relation
to the Bible. He is First on the sacred page. The one
object of the Holy Scriptures is to reveal to men the
Person and the beautiful Portrait of Jesus Christ. Jesus
is the key to its interpretation! He is the Glory of
its pages.
o Jesus- is the Covering Provided after the fall of
man.
o Jesus-is the Ark, which rose above the floodwaters
of Judgment.
o It is Jesus whom we see in the Sacrifice on Mount
Moriah, in the ladder of Jacob, in the story of Joseph.
o Jesus is the Paschal
Lamb! The Manna in the desert! The smitten rock! The
suffering scapegoat! The enrobed Priest.
o It is Jesus whom we see in the Tabernacle and its
furnishings-in the mercy seat! In the golden candlestick.
o it is Jesus whom we see in the book of Psalms- In
Proverbs, the book of wisdom. In the visions of the
Prophets. Jesus is the "First" in revelation
o His face can be seen on every page! The testimony
of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy, for He is the Alpha
and the Omega" The first and the last of this Holy
Book. How sad it is, that there are so many who never
read this wonderful book.
George Whitfield. ---
"God has condescended to become an author, and
yet people will not read his writings. There are very
few that ever give this Book of God, the grand charter
of salvation, one fair reading through".
A. His Pre-eminence-
In Relation to Creation...
B. His Pre-eminence-In
Relation to Revelation
C.His Pre-eminence-In
Relation to Redemption
Jesus is First, in the
Plan of Salvation-He said in the book of Psalms
Then said I, Lo, I come:
in the volume of the book it is written of me,
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is
within my heart. Ps 40:7-8
He has accomplished redemption!
Forever more He will stand as the centre and the Head
of God's greatest work --The Restoration of a Ruined
Race of sinful men! and the Restoration of a cursed
World.
Jesus is not only the first in Redemption-He is the
all of Redemption. The Winepress He has trodden alone!
His was all the cost! His agony! His shame! And His
shall the Glory be, the one, who is the first and the
last, shall be honoured forever.
ILLUSTRATION King Richard
the Lionheart angered King Leopold when, during the
crusades, he took down Leopold's banner and put up his
own.
So, on his homeward journey, Richard was kidnapped by
Leopold and held for ransom. It was an enormous sum.
Eventually, Richard was set free but the ransom was
never entirely paid. Only a part of it was paid to Leopold.
Joyfully, we say of our ransom,
Jesus, the First and the Last, has paid it all!"
There is no Name so sublime
in heaven as the Name of Jesus! And there is no song
so loud as the one that celebrates His Redeeming Love,
a love that knows no limit, and a love that knows no
end.
D. His Pre-eminence- Relation to Personal Salvation
Every saved soul must acknowledge Jesus as the First.
He ever says to His Own. "Ye have not chosen me,
but I have chosen you", John 15:16
The first desire, that we had to come to Him, came from
Him. The very longing that we had for Him was His. Grace,
beginning to enter our hearts. With His loving kindness
He has drawn us to Himself. Jesus is "First in
Personal Salvation"-Salvation is of the Lord.
E. His Pre-eminence- In Relation to our Personal Consecration
The true aim of a consecrated life is to make Jesus
First. He is to have first place in our heart's affection.
Jesus is to be First in our thoughts, in our motives,
in our plans, friendships, occupations, and business,
first in our whole existence.
"Jesus First" let this be our simple watchword
and very soon all of life's entanglements will soon
be unravelled. Jesus first in every decision that we
have to make! Is this His will? Will this please Him?
Do you want the best?
give your best by always putting Jesus first. This will
elevate you to a higher plain of spiritual experience.
When Jesus is on the Throne of our hearts, the fullness
of Blessing will be on us. God tends to use the one
nearest him.
Friends, as someone has said "Mend your nets with
prayer, cast them in faith, and draw them in love for
the Saviour". His Pre-eminence-- In Relation to
our Consecration-- Jesus First-
Take my life and let
it be consecrated Lord to Thee
Take my moments and my days Let them flow with Ceaseless
Praise.
JESUS THE FIRST.
JESUS THE LAST
This implies the eternal
existence of Jesus. He is as He himself has expressed
it "Alive for evermore"
It is a blessed thing to have one, as our friend, who
holds all the future in the palm of His hand. Let us,
as Believers, always remember, that no matter what is
coming Jesus is coming, with it, and that He is in control
of every future event.
Though it is Trial, Temptation, or death, He will be
there. The heavens and the earth will pass away, but
He will remain and so will His Word.
All other friends, whom we have known, will pass away,
but Jesus will remain forever the same. We will change
but Jesus never! He is the same yesterday today and
forever-
Beyond the tears and the partings of earth, Jesus stands
in eternity to welcome His people home, and to give
out the crown of life.
JESUS IS THE LAST.
The things that He gives to us will stand sure, for
the things, which are linked to Him, are eternal.
A. Jesus the Last. --
His Eternal Presence....
I -will never leave you
nor forsake you}'
B. Jesus the Last --
His Eternal Plan
"The author and the finisher of our faith "
Jesus, our Friend, will finish His work in us and He
will carry to consummation all that He has begun.
Paul says to the Church in Philippi --"Being confident
of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good
work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"
Phil 1:6
The Psalmist said--
"The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:
thy mercy, Psa 138:8
C Jesus the Last -- His
EternalPromise
"My sheep hear my
voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all;
and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's
hand." John 10:27--29
Jesus has taken us on
forever and He will lead us on! He will accomplish in
us all that He has planned and it will be for His Glory.
Jesus Christ is the substance and the end of all things.
ILLUSTRATION As one writer of old has said, "When
we are done with all things and people see Him as He
is, we shall find that His heart is the fountain of
love. His smile is the substance of joy! His life is
the life of all life.! Himself the First and Last of
everything!"
Beloved, when we get to heaven we will have nothing
that is not part of Him and linked with Him. Every face
we see-will reflect His beauty! Every glory we wear
will reflect His Holiness.
Put Jesus First and you
will find out surely that Jesus is the Last..
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha
and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and
the last.
