Our second devotional in Colossians is a beautiful poem/hymn that doesn’t get near the attention that Philippians 2.5-11 gets. But it’s just as beautiful and worth spending lots of time meditating and reflecting on. Here’s Colossians 1.15-23:
The poem in verses 15-20 says a lot about the supremacy of Jesus over and above all things. That is the major take away from it. Jesus Christ has primacy, is the beginning, at the head of, first, or before all things, even over things seen and unseen as well as all political power.
According to Paul, Jesus images the invisible God. Much like Jesus says in the gospel of John that, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14.9). Jesus points us to God, shows us what God is like in human form. Because of this Jesus models for us what it looks like to live a life in God. When we become Jesus’ disciples we become mirrors of Jesus, mirrors of God to the world around us.
But, Jesus doesn’t just image God. Jesus is God and Paul highlights how Jesus was with God at the beginning, the firstborn over all creation. For in Christ, all things were created, in heaven and earth, visible and invisible. Everything was created through him and for him. For this reason Jesus holds all things together. Through Jesus and his blood on the cross, God is able to reconcile all things back to himself.
So what, we might ask ourselves does all of this flowing, over the top language about the supremacy of Christ have to do with us. Why does it matter? Well, Paul is concerned about that too as he explains the implications of this after the poem. For the Colossians, and for us, we were once alienated from God, once distant, once enemies to God. But, and this a big but, because God has reconciled us by Christ’s death on the cross we are now presented to God as holy and without blemish. We are free from accusations because of the work of Jesus on the cross.
However, this means our lives must be changed. The peace that Christ makes for us leads us to live in a firm faith, holding onto the hope of the gospel as the driving force in our lives. Christ’s reconciliation means nothing to us if we don’t change our lives to live under his Lordship, under the supremacy of his leadership over all of creation.
One take away for me in the midst of this pandemic, and perhaps it’s helpful for you too is to think about the picture of Jesus holding all things together. There are moments right now where it feels like I’m barely holding myself together much less anything else. It is comforting to know that in those moments in life when I can’t keep things together, Jesus is holding all things together. May Jesus hold you in this time.
For our hymn prayer today here is “Christ is the world’s true light”
Christ is the world’s true light,
its captain of salvation,
the daystar clear and bright
of every race and nation.
New life, new hope awakes,
for all who own his sway;
freedom her bondage breaks,
and night is turned to day.
In Christ all races meet,
their ancient feuds forgetting,
the whole round world complete,
from sunrise to its setting.
When Christ is throned as Lord
all shall forsake their fear,
to plowshare beat the sword,
to pruning hook the spear.
One Lord, in one great Name
united us all who own you.
Cast out our pride and shame
that hinder to enthrone you.
The world has waited long,
has labored long in pain.
To heal its ancient wrong,
come, Prince of peace, and reign!
Grace and Peace to you, Amen.
P.S. Check out this youtube video from Andrew Peterson that tells this scripture in music: