JESUS YHWH MOST HIGH
In this post I will highlight how the NT writings portray the risen Jesus as possessing the very status and authority that belong to YHWH alone, as well as receiving the very universal worship, which the Hebrew Bible teaches that YHWH eventually will receive.
The prophet Isaiah declares that a day will come when every human being will eventually worship YHWH in acknowledgment of his being the only just God who saves:
“Declare and present it. Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has shown this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Haven’t I, Yahweh? There is no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior. There is no one besides me. ‘Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by myself. The word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and will not be revoked, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.” Isaiah 45:21-23
According to the NT writings, this will take place on the day when the risen Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead, since every individual will have to stand before Christ’s judgment seat in order to give an account for everything they have done:
“For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, ‘“As I live,” says the Lord, “to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.”’ Isaiah 45:23 So then each one of us will give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:9-12
“For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10
This is where it gets interesting!
The Apostle Paul states that this is the day when every created being will bow down in worship of the risen Christ where they shall all confess Jesus as Lord:
“Therefore God also highly exalted him (hyperhypsosen), and gave to him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11
Remarkably, the holy Apostle has the whole creation ascribing to Christ the very same universal worship and confession, which the passage of Isaiah 45:23 attributes to YHWH in recognition of his being the only true God!
The risen Jesus is further portrayed as possessing the name, i.e., the status and position, which belongs to YHWH alone:
“let them praise Yahweh’s name, for his name ALONE is exalted. His glory is above the earth and the heavens.” Psalm 148:13
Elsewhere, Paul states that the post-resurrected Christ has been exalted far above every name, power, dominion, authority, etc., both in this age and in the age to come:
“and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVE all rule, authority, power, dominion, and EVERY NAME that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:19-23
What this basically means is that Jesus shall reign over the whole entire creation throughout all eternity!
The inspired Apostle has described Christ’s status in the same manner that the Psalms depicts YHWH’s exaltation over all the so-called gods worshiped by the nations:
“For you, Yahweh, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted FAR ABOVE all gods.” Psalm 97:9
Interestingly, the Greek version of the aforementioned verse employs the same verb that Paul used in the Philippians text cited above:
“For thou art Lord most high over all the earth; thou art highly exalted (hyperhypsothe) above all gods.” Psalm 96:9 LXX
To sum up the biblical witness:
- YHWH alone is exalted above all creation.
- YHWH alone possesses a name above every name.
- To YHWH alone will every creature eventually bow down in worship in recognition that he alone is the righteous God and Savior.
- Jesus is exalted far above the entire creation.
- Jesus possesses the name (i.e., the status, authority, glory etc.) that is above every name.
- Every created being will eventually bow down to Jesus and confess him as Lord, in recognition of his being YHWH Almighty Incarnate.
CONCLUSION: Jesus is YHWH God Almighty that became Man, being essentially one with and also personally distinct from both the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Unless noted otherwise, biblical citations are taken from the World English Bible (WEB).
FURTHER READING
LET EVERY THING THAT HAS BREATH PRAISE JAH JESUS!
Jesus Christ and the Divine Identity:
Jesus is Jehovah God According to the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible! Pt. 5