Colossians 1:18-20
Are you pleased with him?
Today we continue with this short introductory passage, with Paul almost outlining Jesus’ CV. We start in verse 18, with three more mind-blowing statements about him.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
First, he is head of the church. When he said “I will build my church”, (Matt 16:18) he was stating his ultimate authority over the worldwide church, noting that this universal church is built upon the foundation of belief that Jesus is mankind’s Saviour.
Next is a statement which might be easily overlooked, ‘he is the beginning’. John’s gospel spells this out, “In the beginning was the word”. Jesus’ mission to reconcile mankind back to God wasn’t ‘plan B’. A careful read through the Old Testament shows a golden thread of God’s strategy with Jesus being present at the very beginning of the universe.
Third, he is the firstborn from the dead. This is a truth that is not often preached about. I personally believe that this was one of tasks Jesus accomplished between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. I guess for those mindful of the Jews – or Gentiles for that matter – who had died before Jesus, and ask, “What happens to them?” Tucked away in a quiet corner of the New Testament, is 1 Peter 3:19,
‘After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits.’
I believe this is the statement that Jesus went to those imprisoned spirits to proclaim the Good News that he had overcome death. At the time Paul wrote this letter, this may have been very much on people’s minds, as first-generation Christians with close family members who would have recently died before hearing the gospel.
Back in Colossians, verse 19 continues with profound statements, that God the Father was pleased to impart in Jesus his Almighty fullness. Here we have one examples of the mystery of the Trinity, the Father is in the Son (John 14:11).
Moving on to verse 20, we see that Jesus has the all-encompassing role of bringing together all of creation, in universal unification. Not just the earth, but heaven too – we will get the best of both worlds! This will reinstate God’s holy order to the universe not seen since the garden of Eden. We will be restored to walk alongside God. Satan and all his followers will be put back in their rightful place (see Rev 20).
All this from three verses!
So, what has this to do with us in Southbourne on a Monday morning? We should acknowledge Jesus as the head of our church and look to him to guide us wherever we are as the body of Christ. Knowing there is great hope for the restoration of a united universal Holy Kingdom to come.
For me, I find that there is so much to Jesus, that each one of his many perfect attributes is sufficient to want to praise his Holy name. Which one will you pick today to start your worship?
Prayer
Dear Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three in one –
we acknowledge you as our one true God. We thank you and trust that you will unite the whole of creation to praise of your holy name.
We look forward to the day when the new creation is established. We offer our lives to your service in the work to be done right now, until you come again in glory.
Amen
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Tomorrow’s Reading: Colossians 1:21-23