inheritance

What a blessing it is to have a firstborn child! It’s funny how they grow so fast; you forget how tiny they were in those first few weeks and months. 

Well, that doesn’t quite describe our firstborn. He was larger than normal. I remember standing behind his crib in the hospital nursery when I looked up and saw a lady walking by. She gazed at the room full of babies, then stopped and pointed to mine. She held out her hands and though I couldn’t hear her, I knew what she was saying. “He’s big!”

As a matter of fact, I thought of him as an “oldborn,” as if he was two months old when he entered this world!

Baby stories are great!

The Bible mentions firstborns many times (132 times in the NIV). Several of these occasions refer to Jesus as God’s firstborn. Taking that word in its customary meaning, we would tend to dwell on Christ’s infancy and then imagine Him growing up as the oldest child in Mary and Joseph’s household.

While all this is true, the Scriptures convey something more. In the book of Psalms, Ethan the Ezrahite wrote about God’s promises to King David. Here’s the verse which concerns us:

“And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth.” – Psalm 89:27

Ezra is quoting the Lord speaking about His intention to bless David. But we can take it as a prophecy that finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. In effect, this verse gets realized twice: once by David and later by the Lord Jesus.

But according to 1 Samuel 17:12-14, David wasn’t the firstborn of his family. Quite the opposite; he was the youngest boy. Neither was he the first king; Saul preceded him.

What God is stressing here is not birth order but inheritance rights. The firstborn son received twice as much of the family estate as his siblings did (see Deuteronomy 21:15-17). This practice enabled him to function as a patriarch like his father and keep much of the estate intact.

Psalm 89:27 equates God’s firstborn with being “the most exalted” of this world’s kings. Again, this doesn’t have to do with birth order. God’s talking about status. Exalted status.

There are other verses that highlight aspects of Jesus as God’s firstborn.

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” – Colossians 1:15

Like Ethan did in Psalm 87, the apostle Paul lists succeeding nouns to equate them. In this case, Jesus the Son is the image and the firstborn. He’s the image of God who isn’t visible. We can’t see the Father, but Jesus revealed Him when He came to earth. God is perfect, and Christ’s representation of the Father is likewise perfect.

We should interpret Jesus as the firstborn in a comparable manner. The first half of the verse disallows interpreting the second half to mean Jesus is a created being. He rules over and inherits the created order. This is part of the plan of redemption. Sin drove a wedge between creation and the Creator. Jesus, human and divine, brings about reunification. And since humanity occupies the apex of creation, Christ remakes people, too.

“And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.” – Colossians 1:18

Now Paul matches firstborn status with headship. Through His resurrection, Jesus has the power and the authority to give new life to those dead in sin. As He does so, He presides over them since He occupies the privileged rank–the firstborn. Jesus reigns supreme over us, His followers, and we honor Him!

“For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” – Romans 8:29

In Romans 8, Paul uses a social analogy to communicate a truth about our salvation. Jesus is the firstborn; He holds primacy within the family of God. But this situation isn’t static. God is making us like Jesus. As Christ is the image of God, so we are growing into the image of Christ. We’re becoming like God and Jesus is our exemplar.

This process is glorious … and costly.

“John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father–to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” – Revelation 1:4-6

This doesn’t sound challenging; it sounds glorious! But look at how John describes Jesus. First, He’s the faithful witness. He bore testimony to God’s truth throughout His ministry, including His trial before Pilate (see John 18:37). It cost Him His life.

But praise God, Jesus didn’t stay dead! He’s not only the first person to experience resurrection, He now presides over it. His supremacy is such that He prevails over the kings of this world.

This is important for John’s readers because they were suffering for the Lord or were about to enter into scorching trials. And the tribulations of disciples continue to the present. But no matter what we face, we have the assurance that Jesus preceded and prevailed. He suffered for us, honored His Father, and now enjoys enthronement over heaven and earth.

And He has made a way for us to take part. By God’s grace, we, too, can join His family and become part of Christ’s inheritance. He wants us with Him!

One final verse. It fits well at Christmastime, but it’s a nice way to close this post.

 “And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship Him.’” – Hebrews 1:6 (quoting Psalm 97:7)

Let’s always worship Jesus the firstborn!