When I was in high school there were two views of the origin of the universe – The steady state theory (that the universe was eternal) and the big bang theory (that the universe had a beginning). Since then, the steady state theory has been discarded. But it was attractive to scientists because it removed the need for a creator God because the universe was eternal. Now there is a need for a creator to kick off the universe. And the Bible says that it is the creator who is eternal.

An Old Testament prophecy about the birth of Christ also makes a statement about His antiquity. The prophet Micah wrote, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah [near Jerusalem], though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Mic. 5:2NIV). This is from a passage (v.2-5) that is about the birth and reign of Israel’s Ultimate Ruler. And Isaiah called this person “Mighty God, Everlasting Father” (Isa. 9:6).

“From ancient times” means from the eternal past. Jesus is the eternal God. The promise to Judah was that their situation would change when the Messiah comes (Mic. 5:4).

So, Micah prophesized that the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem had existed eternally in the past. Over 700 years later, the fulfilment was given.

John begins his gospel, “In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made” (Jn. 1:1-3). Here we see that Jesus was the pre-existing eternal One. Before anything was created, Jesus existed. His existence is beyond time. He has always existed, and He created everything, including time. Jesus preceded creation in both time and space. When He was born, Jesus added a human nature to His eternal, divine nature.

And when He was in Jerusalem, Jesus told the Jews, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (Jn. 8:58). He existed before Abraham. Christ existed in eternity. The Son of God never came into being at all because He always existed in eternity. He had no beginning. He is timeless. Then they tried to stone Him to death because they recognized that Christ claimed to be God almighty.

And Jesus said that He was with God the Father, “before the world began” (Jn.17:5).

And in the last chapter of the Bible Jesus says, “Look, I am coming soon! … I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Rev. 2:12-13). These three pairs of titles affirm that Jesus is eternal.

Prayer

Father God, we thank you that the trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is eternal. That Jesus who was born in Bethlehem existed from all eternity. He is almighty God. This means that He has unique powers of creation and salvation.

So, we offer thanks and praise for all that you have done through Jesus. In Christ’s name, Amen.

G Hawke