Day 24 - Defining Greatness
- Pastor b.Side
- Mar 24
- 3 min read
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, [be] honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. - 1 Timothy 1:17
Modern culture often uses the word “great” to describe a wide range of things. Greatness refers to something remarkable, distinguished, skilled, or even large in size. The scriptures simplify the idea of true greatness. They define greatness by describing God's characteristics and the unchanging nature of His Word. The Apostle Paul’s description of Jesus as God incarnate certainly sets Him apart from everything else in terms of greatness!
“Now to the King eternal…”
First, the text refers to Jesus as the “eternal King.” Before there were any people, Jesus was already seated on His throne. Before humans had breath and the ability to hold authority, Jesus was already governing angels in heaven. Jesus isn’t just an authority figure; He existed before all things in heaven and earth, which is why the Bible calls Him the KING of kings.
“Immortal…”
The scriptures teach that Jesus is immortal. Death doesn’t affect Jesus, and His resurrection confirms this. It’s not just that Jesus was bodily raised from the dead, but that He was raised in glory! He wasn’t reanimated like a zombie. His glory was so great that people who knew Him couldn’t recognize Him until He opened their eyes. The greatness of God is such that Jesus faced death according to the predetermined purpose of the Father and wasn’t affected by it in any way! This illustrates the scope of God’s eternally unchanging greatness.
“Invisible…”
The Bible teaches that Jesus is invisible, and that is true. We cannot physically see Him now. Why? After His resurrection, He ascended to the right hand of the Father, entering His eternal kingdom. Although His Spirit dwells in the hearts of His people, we cannot see the Spirit physically either. Yet, like the wind, we observe the effects of His presence. His eternal nature requires His dwelling in an eternal kingdom within the spiritual realm, which we cannot perceive. This does not mean that Jesus is disconnected from His people, nor does it imply that we can’t see evidence of His continued reign as KING of kings. Only God's wisdom can produce such results, and our ability to understand them.
“To God who alone is wise…”
The time between Day 1 and the start of Jesus’ ministry didn’t diminish His ability to display the same power, authority, and wisdom. The change in His appearance before and after the Resurrection didn’t alter Him either. That’s the greatness of His eternal nature! It’s no wonder Paul wrote that all honor and glory belong to Him forever and ever. Jesus deserves all honor and glory for as long as He lives, which is forever and ever.
Prayer for today
Our heavenly Father, thank You for revealing the truth of who You are by taking on flesh. Thank You for the testimony of Your Word and the Holy Spirit, which make Your invisible attributes clear to us. We can see that You dwell in the heavens, high above all things in heaven and on earth. The time You spent in Israel as the Lamb of God didn’t change Your position of authority and glory. Help us to remember who You truly are and to give You the honor and glory You deserve forever, in Jesus’ name. Amen!
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