God wants us to know Jesus well. The more we know Jesus, the closer our relationship with God will be. And as our knowledge of Jesus increases, the more we can access the riches of heaven and manifest God’s kingdom upon the earth.
In order to know Jesus, we need revelation from God. Apart from the help of the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to truly know Jesus.
Praise God for the Scriptures. The Bible gives us a perfect picture of who Jesus is, and therefore it gives us a perfect revelation of God. In the Bible, God often uses symbols in order to reveal Jesus Christ to us. Jesus is symbolized by many different things, including plants and animals. These divine symbols are chosen by God to help us understand Jesus better.
Here are 20 symbols of Jesus in the Bible. As we meditate on these symbols, we will get a greater revelation of Jesus. And this increasing revelation of God’s Son will help us be transformed into his image, for when we see Jesus as he is we will be like him (1 John 3:2).
1. Road (John 14:6)
Jesus is like a road. A road is a way to move from one place to another. When a person is on a road, he is moving to a destination.
Jesus is the spiritual road by which we access the Father. When we believe in Jesus, we begin moving toward our divine destination in the New Jerusalem in heaven. There is no other road to get to heaven. Jesus is the only road to be saved, and he is the only road for us to progress spiritually after being saved. God’s words show us this way of Christ, for Jesus Christ himself is the Word of God.
2. Door (John 10:9)
Jesus is like a door. A door leads to a new place. It marks a transition from one place to another. A door can keep people out, or it can let people in. To enter a house, one must go through the door. To go from one room to another within a house, one goes through a door.
Jesus is the door to the Father’s house, which is the church (Ephesians 2:20-22). He determines who comes into heaven and who stays out. The only way to enter the house is through the door. In addition, Jesus is the door by which we go to new positions within God’s house. For example, after being born again we will be baptized in water and baptized in the Holy Spirit. These steps of obedience help us access new realms in God.
3. Light (John 8:12)
Jesus is like light. Light helps us see where we’re going, live in this world, and accomplish things. Without light, we cannot move around, go anywhere, or do much of anything. Jesus is spiritual light that dispels spiritual darkness. He reveals God, shows us who we are, and interprets the world to us so we know how to live in this current age.
4. Sun (Malachi 4:2)
Jesus is like the sun. The sun is the source of light for the world, giving it heat and energy.
Jesus shines his grace to the world, affecting everything and everyone, upholding the earth by the word of his power (Hebrews 1:3). He shines his grace particularly on believers, giving them grace to live for God and his kingdom in the midst of the present darkness.
5. Morning Star (Revelation 22:16)
The morning star is the first star seen in the sky in the morning before the sunrise. Jesus is the beginning of the shining of fullness of heaven into our lives.
6. Bread (John 6:33)
Jesus is like bread. In the Bible times, everyone ate a lot of carbohydrates in the form of bread. Almost every meal included bread. Jesus is the spiritual nourishment we need. His words feed us and give us energy. Without Jesus flowing into our lives, we will be exhausted and burned out.
7. Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4)
Jesus is like a rock, stable and strong.
8. Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20)
Jesus is like a cornerstone. The cornerstone is the main stone in a a building that determines its direction. The cornerstone is the main foundation stone. Writing on the cornerstone often reveal who the building is dedicated to or belongs to. Jesus is the cornerstone of the church. His words determine the form and function of the church, and he is the owner of the church.
9. Foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11)
Foundations carry the weight of entire buildings. Jesus is the foundation for our lives, and he is the foundation for the church. Only that which is built on Jesus will last forever, but everything else will pass away.
10. Ransom (1 Timothy 2:6)
Jesus is our ransom. A ransom is the amount of money paid to a captor to will release a captive. Jesus’ life is of infinite value, because he is God, and he gave his life as a ransom for us. Therefore we are set free from captivity to sin and Satan. We are now free to choose God and live righteous lives.
11. Head of the body (Colossians 1:18)
Jesus is the head of the church, his body. The head tells the body parts what to do. All body parts are connected to the head, and this connection with the head is the basis of their union with each other. When Christians obey Christ’s words, they are united with each other. But when they disobey God, they are disconnected from the head and therefore disconnected from each other. A body part that moves spastically on its own apart from the instructions of the head has a problem, and so it is for Christians today who do religious things “for Jesus” that he never told them to do. Similarly, a body part that doesn’t move even though the head tells it to move is paralyzed, and so it is for Christians who do not follow God’s commands. To be healthy members of the body of Christ, we need to listen to and follow the instructions of our head, Jesus.
12. Rod (Isaiah 11:1)
Jesus is like a rod. A rod disciplines and punishes, and Jesus might chasten us. A rod can be used to protect, and Jesus’ rod is used to chase away the wolf. In ancient times, rods were used for measurement, and Jesus measures the church to see if it is built according to his standard.
13. Alpha (Revelation 1:8)
Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and this letter represents Jesus. Jesus is the beginning of all God’s works because he is God’s word. The universe was created when God spoke his word. God’s life begins inside any person when that person hears the gospel and believes it.
14. Omega (Revelation 1:8)
Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet, and this letter represents Jesus. Jesus is the end of God’s works because he is God’s word, and at the end of the age he will judge the world according to God’s word.
15. Lamb (John 1:29)
Jesus is like a lamb. A lamb is gentle, meek, compliant, and was often used as a sacrificial animal. Jesus was humble. When people shouted at him, beat him, or attacked him, he did not fight back. Ultimately, he laid down his life for our sins.
16. Lion (Revelation 5:5)
Jesus is like a lion. A lion is the strongest animal that dominates other animals. Lions live in groups, and the male lion is the leader. The primary job of the male lion is to protect the pride and maintain territory. Satan is like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), seeking whom he may devour, and Jesus is our strong lion who defends us.
17. Vine (John 15:5)
Jesus is like a vine. A vine is full of nutritious sap that feeds the branches. We are like branches who are attached to Jesus the vine. As long as we abide in Jesus, drawing on his nourishment, we will bear fruit.
18. Seed (John 12:24)
Jesus is like a seed. Seeds contain DNA which is complex information that guides the growth of the plant. The word of God is like DNA that causes the growth of the church according to the will of God. As long as the church follows God’s word, it will fulfill God’s purpose, but if the church deviates from the word of God it alters its DNA and becomes a mutant church.
19. Root (Revelation 5:5)
Jesus is like a root that supports the plant of the church. Christ takes nutrients and provides it to the church so she can grow.
20. Branch (Isaiah 11:1)
We are the branches, but Jesus is the main Branch. He is the branch that completely fulfills its purpose, and he bears perfect fruit. We are to follow his example.
As we meditate on these symbols of Jesus, we will gain an increasing revelation of him. In this way we can become more like him. This is God’s goal, for Jesus is the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29). God gave us these divine symbols of his Son in the pages of the Bible in order to transform our lives into the image of his glorious Son.
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