When Jesus came to earth as the Messiah, He came as the fulfillment of more than 400 prophecies.
Additionally, numerous individuals in Scripture foreshadowed Who Jesus would be and what He would do. These people can be called a ‘type of Christ’.
Jesus fulfilled these as well.
In their recent song Christ the True and Better, modern hymn writers Matt Boswell and Matt Papa detail a few of these types of Christ from Scripture whom Christ paralleled in His first coming. The song is a beautiful picture of how “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
Over the next few weeks, we will look more in depth at each person mentioned in Christ the True and Better and the Scriptures relating to them. For now, let’s take a step back and overview the concept in general.
What does it mean that Christ is the ‘True and Better’?
True
According to one definition for the word ‘true’ in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, the essence of the word means to be “in accordance with fact or reality, without deviation, without variation from type”.
John tells us that Jesus is the “True Light, which gives light to everyone,” “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” and “the True Vine,” to name a few. (John 1:9, John 14:6, John 15:1)
Later, John expounds on this, saying, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20)
Malachi states that “True instruction was in His mouth, and no wrong was found on His lips. He walked with [God] in peace and uprightness, and He turned many from iniquity.” (Malachi 2:6)
Jeremiah reminds us that “the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King.” (Jeremiah 10:10)
In the Psalms David marvels, “This God—His way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.” (Psalm 18:30)
Even Jesus, speaking regarding how He spoke not on His own authority but by the authority of the Father who sent Him, said this: “The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of Him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.” (John 7:18)
So not only does this word describe Christ, but He also is truth, meaning that He is the perfect fulfillment of any and all prophecies and types.
Better
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines better as something “more attractive, favorable, or commendable,” “a superior especially in merit or rank,” and as something one does “in a more excellent manner, to greater advantage” and “to a higher or greater degree.”
In Scripture, the word “better” is used in contexts like that of 1 Samuel 15, where Samuel rebukes king Saul and says that “to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams,” and that the LORD has given Saul’s kingdom to a neighbor of his “who is better” than him. (1 Samuel 15:22, 28)
It also appears many times in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, speaking of how much better it is to gain wisdom than any earthly alternatives, and in these verses in the book of Psalms speaking of and to the LORD:
“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.” (Psalm 63:3)
“For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psalm 84:10)
“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.” (Psalm 118:8-9)
“The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” (Psalm 119:72)
Jesus uses the word “better” many times in the Gospels, and it appears often in the epistles.
However, the passage that perhaps best helps us understand this word is found in the book of Hebrews:
“For it is witnessed of Him, ‘You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.’ For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’”
This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but He holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues forever. Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sins and then for those of the people, since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.” (Hebrews 7:17-28 emphasis added)
There is a clear and comforting connection in this passage between the fact that Jesus is better and the fact that He holds the position of high priest forever and permanently. He is better because He is forever.
So not only does this word also describe Christ, but He embodies the perfect and ever-lasting definition of the word, meaning that He is the best fulfillment of any and all prophecies and types.
How should this affect us?
We as believers are commanded to act in light of the fact that Christ is true and better. As Paul commands, “But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” (Ephesians 4:20-25)
May we all seek to let these truths take root not only in our minds, but in our hearts and actions.
Written by NBB Alumna: Bethany Boone
