Slices
Prepare
We live in a world full of things. Sometimes they own us more than we own them! Are there things you hope will make you happy? What things could stand in the way between you and God?
Bible passage
The supremacy of the Son of God
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 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.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation – 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Explore
This passage is bursting at the seams. How can the invisible God have an image (v 15)? How can all creation exist for and through one person (v 16)? How can anyone rise from the dead? How can every competing force in the universe be reconciled? Can true peace ever be realised? The answer to each of these questions is found in Jesus, God’s only Son who died and rose again. It is all so simple and at the same time so incredibly profound.
Paul in one paragraph sums up the astonishing truth of the gospel; for a small church in a regional town! They, and us, are presented holy and blameless through this Jesus (v 22). The Lord of all creation came in the flesh and sorted out our mess. Job done. We are reconciled with a God who loves us.
The challenge now is how to think and act in response to that astonishing truth. The hard work of salvation has been done through Christ. Nothing to add. The question is how then should we live? Paul urges the Colossians to stand firm in this hope (v 23).
Respond
What forces are shaking your foundations? Bring those challenges to our Father now. He is with you, to the very end of the age.
Deeper Bible study
Take my life, and let it be / consecrated, Lord, to thee; / take my moments and my days, / let them flow in ceaseless praise.’1
I remember seeing a poster about three possible positions the Lord Jesus can occupy in Christian lives. In all he is present; in some he is prominent; in a few he is pre-eminent. The heresy infecting the Colossian church (see the Introduction) kept Jesus at the lowest level because it claimed that other powers, other secret knowledge and extra instructions were also necessary. By refuting this heresy Paul makes exclusive claims for Jesus in this stupendous praise passage. This is Jesus at the maximum, the pre-eminent Saviour. His image (v 15) reveals God by his very nature and being. As firstborn (v 15) he exists before creation, is active in creation (v 16)2 and is intimately involved in reconciling every part of creation (v 17). Note the repetitions of ‘all’. There are no invisible powers or extras beyond his control. In everything he has supremacy (v 18).
Right in the middle of these awesome claims we find ourselves! Jesus is also head of the body, the church (v 18). The all-important outcome for us and the world is that Jesus, through his death on the cross, reconciles all things to God (v 20). Rebellious creation is brought into ‘at-one-ment’. Among these theologically dense descriptions, the word ‘blood’ cuts through with violent realism. It is meant to, for only by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross are we reconciled, free to live clean new lives (v 22). What a testimony – once enemies in our minds because of our evil behaviour, now holy in God’s sight (vs 21,22). These soaring claims for who Jesus is and what he has done as Saviour is the good news to be shared worldwide (v 23).
As we celebrate the incarnation, consider this perspective to Jesus’ humble birth: ‘The incarnate Deity, / our God contracted to a span, / incomprehensibly made man.’3
1 Frances Ridley Havergal, 1836–79 2 See John 1:1–14 3 Charles Wesley, 1707–88, ‘Let earth and heaven combine’
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Amos 3,4; Psalms 140,141
Pray for Scripture Union
Content Developer Leanne Sheppard and the rest of the team are putting the final touches to the SeeKing Jesus Collection. This is a new set of resources for Faith Guides working with 5- to 8-year-olds and their families in schools and communities. Pray that everything will be completed on time before Christmas.
