Jesus as Creator

Genesis 1:1 tells us God created the heavens and the earth. What role did Jesus play in creation? Was He merely a helper to God the Father? Does He have a role in sustaining our universe? The Bible is full of examples of Jesus’ creative hand. Studying Jesus as Creator is a fascinating aspect of His character and answers all these questions!

Who Is the Creator?

Where else to start but the beginning?

Genesis 1:1-

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

There are those who claim only God the Father was involved in creating the universe. Others believe Jesus was merely an extra catalyst in God’s creative work.

These ideas come from passages such as Nehemiah 9:6:

“You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens… the earth and all that is on it… You give life to everything…” (Meaning God is the only deity.)

It’s important to understand and be able to point to Biblical passages that prove Jesus created the world.

Hebrew Word for God

Let’s look at the word “God” in Genesis 1:1. This word in the ancient Hebrew is “Elohim”- a plural word used specifically when referring to the Lord God.

This unique usage of the word Elohim is a mystery that lays the groundwork for the trinity- a core belief of our faith- our God is three in one.

Jesus in Genesis

We only have to fast forward to Genesis 1:26 to find further proof of Jesus’ part in creation. God says, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.”

We see the plural “us” used here. Who would God have been talking to if not Jesus and the Holy Spirit? (“The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Genesis 1:2)

And before you guess, “the angels”, remember God created them separately. They did not have a hand in making humanity. Only God created; the three-in-one likeness we call the Trinity.

Jesus as Creator

We have discussed the wonders of the beginning of the world for centuries. I loved studying Genesis because it helps us understand how amazing this work of creation was.

Jesus could have just thought the world into being, but He didn’t. I find it fascinating that He designed and crafted the earth through different forms.

We find the Hebrew word for create– “bara”- used when Jesus created something from nothing; “the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

He made grass to spring forth from the earth- the word “dasa.”

Jesus formed– the word “yasar”- when He created the animals and man from existing earth materials.

He also established– the word “kun”- meaning to set up a stable, fixed, and secure world. We see “kun” used in Jeremiah 10:12, where he is describing the greatness of God-

“He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.”

The Genesis account says over and over, “God made”, “God created,” and “God said” (“Let there be light!”) This shows us the magnificent and amazing power of our creative God in the person of Jesus!

Jesus Created All Things

The New Testament is full of Bible verses that speak of Jesus creating the world.

The book of John begins with beautiful verses that show Jesus as fully God and fully man. He was the eternal Creator of all things who took on full humanity and came to earth. John also shows us how Jesus was in union with God at the creation of the universe.

He explains it this way:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” vv1-2.

John describes Jesus as the “Word” which translates in Greek to “logos.” Rabbis many times used “logos” to speak of God as “the Word of God”; indicating His wisdom and power. The Greeks used “logos” to denote the power that makes the world orderly and controlled.

Both Jews and Greeks would have recognized what John was speaking of when he used “logos” in his opening lines. They had used this word for God for centuries, and John’s description of Jesus showed his existence, wisdom, and creative power.

Through Him All Things Were Made

John continues:

“Through Him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” V3.

All things! Every speck of life on this planet is made by Him. Why then, do we sometimes doubt His ability to work in our lives?

The writer of Hebrews agrees as he describes Jesus’ role in creation:

“In these last days he has spoken to us by His Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.” Hebrews 1:2.

Father and Son share the same nature yet show us different roles, working in tandem, to create their designed plan for the universe.

By Him All Things Were Created

Paul makes one of the strongest statements about the creative power of Jesus in Colossians 1:15-16:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

Jesus is Lord over all creation because He made it! Creation is for Him in the sense that all creations serve Him and bring Him glory and honor. He rightfully rules over the world He made.

Jesus, the Creator of All Things

Why were these New Testament authors so sure of Jesus’ role in creation? They recognized Jesus as Messiah, the Son of God, who had all He needed to create the world.

He was the Word, the divine personality who has always existed and was the Creator of all things.

Luke tells of Jesus having God’s Spirit in 4:18-19. Jesus was reading from the scroll of Isaiah and proclaimed He was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s words:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me.” Isaiah 61:1.

Paul encouraged the Colossians to come to an understanding of Jesus, who possessed God’s Wisdom:  
“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3.

They recognized Jesus as Creator based on what they knew from Scripture and from living and learning from Him.

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Who Created You?

Hopefully, you know God sees you as a valuable treasure– He created you in His image and likeness!

David assures us of God’s intimate knowledge of us-

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14.

The prophet Isaiah has comforting words for us from our Creator Jesus:

“But now, this is what the Lord says- He who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.’” Isaiah 43:1.

You belong to the Lord! He created, formed, redeemed, and called you to come to Him. He wants you to know He holds you and cares for you; you have nothing to fear.

In Christ I Am a New Creation

Our Creator Jesus shows us in the New Testament that He was constantly in creative mode. He restored His creation when He healed the sick and raised the dead to life.

He showed His power to control the supernatural when He exorcised demons, managing the chaos in His created world.

God’s creative plan continued when Jesus’ sacrifice makes a way for us to be reconciled with Him. He blots out our sins and makes us completely new on the inside.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

The same Spirit that hovered over the waters at the beginning of creation lives in us! God did not rehabilitate our old selves, but made us new, re-created beings living in Christ.

Behold I Make All Things New

When God created the world, it was “very good.” Sin corrupted the world and now we experience the ramifications, including death.

As believers in Christ, we can look forward to an eternal life with Him. Jesus remains busy today with sustaining the world He created, but there is more…

John gives us a glimpse in Revelation of what creative work Jesus has planned.

God promises a new Heaven and a new Earth after He has eternally judged sin. Death, mourning, crying and pain will be no more.

John sees this magnificent New Jerusalem where God dwells with His people in Revelation 21. Jesus is on His throne and says:

“Behold, I make all things new. And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’” Revelation 21:5 NKJV.

Sin marred God’s perfect creation, but His plan for recreating continues. We see this promise of a new and transformed world to come. Halleluiah!

Creation in the Psalms

Did you know that creation is one of the six major themes found in the Psalms? We find this theme throughout the entire book, but there are a few beautiful Psalms of creation I want to share with you.

I’m giving you the first verse (s) of each Psalm as an introduction. They would make wonderful prayers of worship back to our creator, Jesus!

Psalm 8–

A short Psalm about the greatness of God and how much the all-powerful Creator cares for His people. It begins this way:

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is our name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.” V1.

Psalm 93-

A short Psalm of God’s unchanging nature and how His creation shows us His great power-

“The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.” V1.

Psalm 104-

A Psalm that shows us how Jesus filled His creation with a stunning variety of works!

“Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent.” vv1-2.

Psalm 148-

Let all creation praise the Lord!

“Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights above. Praise Him, all his angels, praise Him, all His heavenly hosts!” vv1-2.

Jesus is the Creator

Jesus not only had a hand in creating the world, but continues His work by sustaining it as well. That includes you and me. His hand is on our life- every second, every heartbeat.

He is upholding all things by His word and power. He is our source of life. How often do we consider what He has made and how personal He is in each of our lives?

What Does the Creation Story Teach Us About God?

We learn so many lessons about His creative nature. He has existed eternally and has the power to rule and control what He made. God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) rules over all the heavens and the earth.

He possesses all wisdom- who else could make the universe? Create approximately septillion (24 zeros!) stars? Perfectly order the trillion cells that compose our body?

God’s beauty is reflected in His glorious creation. Who hasn’t noticed Him in a sunrise or sunset?

Incredibly, our Creator made Himself human to come to earth as a sacrifice for our sin so that we could be with Him forever. He is our personal God who desires a relationship with us.

His last words in Revelation are a continuing invitation to come to Him and experience the joys that living with the Creator of all things brings.

“Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” Revelation 22:17b. All praise and honor and glory to our Creator Jesus!

Blessings!

AnnMarie

All Scripture is taken from the NIV unless specified otherwise.

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