Above All

Jesus Christ put our salvation above even his own life

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be." (Jn 1:1-3)

"Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified." (Acts 2:36)

"...Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped..." (Phil 2:5-6)

"Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: 'To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever." (Rev 5:13)

"...God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord..." (Phil 2:9-11)

These passages from the Bible all describe Jesus Christ, Lord (Kyrios) of all. The verses affirm that Jesus is above all things, including death. Based on this powerful message, Paul Baloche and Lenny LeBlanc wrote the song "Above All."

The song itself is short, only two verses. However, great power exists in those verses and, especially, in the refrain. The verses list some of the things over which Jesus reigns. Thus, the first verse declares, that He is above all powers, those in heaven and on earth, including our earthly "kings" that many hold in such high esteem. He is above all created things. Indeed the prophet Daniel describes Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah singing in the furnace that all things praise the Lord (Dn 3:52-90).

Jesus is also above things intangible, such as wisdom and the ways of man.

In the second verse, the lyrics affirm again that Jesus is above all thrones, the kingdoms on earth. He is above the wonders of the earth at which we stand in awe. He is also above the false gods of wealth and treasures.

Given all of this, how can we measure the value or worth of Jesus? As with all things pertaining to God, his value, His worth is truly infinite. We cannot comprehend it. So where are these lyrics leading us? We know how great Jesus is. Why provide this shortened list partially declaring the extent of His greatness?

The refrain is where the powerful message is proclaimed. Jesus Christ, Lord of all, was crucified for us by a humiliating death on the cross. He lived his life knowing that he would die for our sins; He came to earth for that very reason. He died, not in the midst of pressing crowds, but alone on a cross, with only his mother, Mary Magdalene and John present as support. The life was crushed out of Him as the lyrics state "like a rose trampled on the ground." Why did He do this? Because He put us, sinners all, above Himself in what was truly the ultimate act of complete love.

Ruminate on this dichotomy. Jesus, Lord of all, above everything, put us above Himself. How can one think about this and not feel awed, honored, maybe a little selfish, but mostly thankful above all?

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