Sunday 27 August, 2017

15 The Son is the exact likeness of God, who can’t be seen. The Son is first, and he is over all creation. 16 All things were created in him. He created everything in heaven and on earth. He created everything that can be seen and everything that can’t be seen. He created kings, powers, rulers and authorities. All things have been created by him and for him. 17 Before anything was created, he was already there. He holds everything together. 18 And he is the head of the body, which is the church. He is the beginning. He is the first to be raised from the dead. That happened so that he would be far above everything. 19 God was pleased to have his whole nature living in Christ. 20 God was pleased to bring all things back to himself. That’s because of what Christ has done. These things include everything on earth and in heaven. God made peace through Christ’s blood, by his death on the cross.

There is so much more to Jesus than a Jewish carpenter from Nazareth. Actually, to come to realise who Jesus actually is makes the whole thought of Him having an ordinary job so completely extraordinary and wonderful. Here’s Paul’s list of little-known-facts about Jesus that Paul needed the Colossians Christians to know…

Jesus is the image of God.

Jesus existed before creation.

Jesus reigns supreme over everything.

God created all things through Jesus.

God created all things for Jesus.

Jesus holds all creation together.

Jesus is the head of the Church.

Jesus is the first to rise from the dead.

Jesus is the first in everything.

Jesus has all of Gods fullness.

God reconciled everything back to himself through Jesus.

God made peace with everything through Jesus’ blood on the cross.

Do I come to Jesus when I want to know who God is? When everything is falling apart do I come to the one who holds all things together? When nothing in my world makes sense do I come to the one who made it for answers? When I’m scared of death do I come to the one who rose from it? When I need peace do I come to the one who purchased it with His blood? Am I still treating Him as merely a carpenter from Nazareth?

Oh Jesus my Lord and my God. You are so much greater than I could ever know. Help me remember to come to You, to seek and find You. You are the source and the goal of my life.  Amen.

Written by Boudy Van Noppen