When does Jesus appear first in the Bible?

If you asked the average person where and when Jesus first appears in the Bible, the answer you would probably receive would be at the manger in the Gospel of Matthew. You couldn't fault this person because, at first glance, this appears to be true. The Old Testament seems to be pointing to the coming of the Messiah in every page. However, if we look more closely, we find Jesus present in the very first chapter of the Bible. 

First, let's look again in John 1...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2 NIV

We have already established that Jesus is the Word, the LOGOS of God. Here verse 2 states that Jesus was with God "in the beginning".

Now, let's look at Genesis 1:1..

"In the beginning God..."

So according to John 1:2, Jesus was present with God before creation. Before God spoke a single thing into existence, the Godhead Trinity was present...before time was even created.

Look more closely at Genesis 1:1-2 and you will find the Holy Spirit present...

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 

Jesus appears in verse 26...

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness..."

Who is God talking to here? The only answer is that He is talking to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit were present and active before the foundations of the earth were laid.

This should change our perspective about who Jesus really is. Rather than the human Jesus who comes on the scene late to save the day, we find a Jesus who was there all along even before creation.

How does knowing that Jesus was present with God even before creation change your perspective about who Jesus really is?

Prayer Emphasis: Ask God to open your heart and mind to having a deeper understanding of Jesus really is..the Lord of and over creation.