While Jesus was born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7), He was no ordinary man. Of all the people who have ever entered this world, Jesus was unique. Jesus was God manifested in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). This is certainly not the only passage in the New Testament that refers to Jesus as being God. Paul called Him such in Titus 2:13.

Titus 2:13 (NKJV)
¹³ Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

The Hebrews writer also call Jesus God, and even affirmed that the angels worshipped Him.

Hebrews 1:6 (ESV)
⁶ And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

These passages powerfully express the deity of our Lord. The passages I appreciate the most, however, are those that speak of His divine image. If you ever need a reminder of just how great Jesus is, I would recommend that you study the first chapter of Colossians. For now, consider with me just a few of the statements that Paul makes about Christ.

Colossians 1:15 (ESV)
¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

While we were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), Jesus is the image of God. Jesus is the exact replica of the Father. This is why He told Philip, “Whoever has seen me, has seen the Father” (John 14:9). The Hebrews writer referred to Jesus in perhaps an even more powerful way. He called Him “the exact imprint of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3). The word imprint refers to the image left by an engraving tool. The image made by an engraving tool is exactly like the image on the tool itself. It is an exact copy (Strong). There is exactly one person who has ever lived in this world who can be described like that, and that, of course, is Jesus. We know what the Father is like because we know what Jesus is like. Indeed, Jesus is divine. But, Paul was not finished.

Colossians 1:16 (ESV)
¹⁶ For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth…

How could anyone be so silly as to think that Jesus is a created being? He was not created; He is the Creator of all things. Every Bible believer knows that God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). That Jesus was involved in that creation is affirmed, not only here by Paul, but, once again, by the Hebrews writer who declared that God created the world through Him (Hebrews 1:2). Jesus was the active agent in the creation of the universe. Since the language of Genesis demands a creation that was ex nihilo, i.e., creation from nothing, and since only God can create something from nothing, Jesus must be God. But, not only did Jesus create the universe, Paul tells us that He holds it all together (Colossians 1:17).

Jesus is God, and He is amazingly great. Yet, in all His greatness and power and strength, He was willing to die for us on a cross. That might be the highest of all His demonstrations of greatness.

As you wind down for the night, think on these things.