Think Like a Christian on Topics Not in the Bibleናሙና

Day 4: Jesus Christ: The Smartest Man Alive

Christians are (or ought to be) awe-struck at the majesty of Jesus. He is the greatest prophet who ever lived, the greatest priest who ever lived, and the King of kings and Lord of Lords. He is truly all that. But how often do you ponder the brilliance and wisdom of Jesus?

Paul summed up Jesus’ intellectual prowess this way: “In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3, CSB). 

Notice first the scope of the claim. We expect Jesus to be a religious genius, a man who drops salvific knowledge on all who come to him. We expect Jesus to be the one who knows how to lead us to heaven. He probably even knows the best way to avoid sin and temptation. But Paul doesn’t limit the scope of Jesus’s brilliance. In Christ are hidden “all” the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. There is no limit or modifier to “all". Wait a minute, does that mean Jesus knows all about quantum mechanics and string theory? Granted, he didn’t learn about those things in Hebrew school as a first-century child in the Holy Land. But Jesus Christ is also the Son of God, the second member of the Trinity, and the one by whom, for whom, and through whom all things were created (Colossians 1:16). Further, he is actively sustaining all things right now (Hebrews 1:3). So I think he has a pretty good grasp of all he has made, and I doubt he is stumped by your biochemistry or calculus homework. 

Second, look at the value of the wisdom and knowledge that Jesus possesses. Paul describes it as “treasure.” There is an infinite worth to the wisdom of Jesus Christ. His answers are not merely wise options for us to consider. His solutions are not on the spectrum of possibilities from which you can choose. His wisdom is profound. His answers are absolute. His counsel is to be treasured. So when he speaks, we obey. When He confronts or rebukes, we repent. When He is silent, we ask for wisdom. And in all things we rejoice, that the One in which all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge is our Good Shepherd.