Friday 09 August 2013

Background

This wonderful, awe-inspiring hymn, as part of Paul's letter tothe Colossians, is introduced by reminding the readers that God hasrescued them from the powers of darkness, and transferred them intothe kingdom of Christ - redeeming them from whatever was before,and forgiving their sins. And, in a world of so many gods, so manylords, so many powers and authorities, all vying for attention anddevotion (much like today), Paul slips in this song (which may havebeen already being passed around the young churches and used inworship - or may have been written by Paul himself) to present tothem with the stature and supremacy of the one they worship. He'snot just a 'god-among-equals'. There is no equal to the one theyknow as Jesus Christ. He is first.

There is no one higher than the one invisible creator God, butJesus Christ is the "image" (v. 15) of God: less like the head on aRoman coin is an image of the emperor, and more like a stark andshining mirror image: when we look at Jesus, we see what God islike! This is a remarkable claim that leads some other respectedreligions to accuse Christianity of blasphemy, but it is one of thecore beliefs of the faith echoed in many places in the NewTestament including the words of Jesus in the Gospels (John10:30-39; John 14:7-13; Hebrews 1:1-4; 1 John5:20).

"He's the firstborn of all creation" (v. 15) "In the beginningwas the Word," says John, "and the Word was with God, and the Wordwas God" (John 1:1). When God said "Let there be light"(Genesis 1:3), Jesus the Word was presentalready in relationship with the Father. He was the expression ofGod's divine will and creative love. John continued "All thingscame into being through him…." (John1:3). And all of this is so hard to imagine when we considerGod's son as 'just' a man, born of Mary, but the writers of the NewTestament invite us to trust in the Word who spans all time andhistory, and beyond. Our faith is not just in a man of 33 years,with a wonderful legacy. Our faith is in this wonderful creativeexpression of God's grace and truth - whom we now call Jesus. "Andthe Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen hisglory, the glory as of a Father's only son…" (John1:14). All of the authorities we bow down to, all of thegovernments who have ever ruled, and all of the spiritual powers wedon't yet understand - they all fall under the lordship of God'sfirstborn Son - and all of this was created through him and forhim.

He is the head of the Church, but not just the Church as we knowit. Jesus is the firstborn of the new creation too. Because wemight notice that for all the good Jesus has brought into theuniverse - in creation and salvation - the world is not as itshould be. It's as if it's been infected with something else. But anew creation is happening according to God's saving plan, and Jesusis leading that too. And so, his resurrection heralds a newbeginning, where death and sin will not have the final word: Jesusis the firstborn from the dead!

In all things, Jesus Christ is the first, the head, the all-timenumber one.

But this is not detached from humanity. It's not detached fromthe pain and shame we know. He's not the Lord despite all that ishappening on earth. He is the fullness of God in our midst,inviting us into that reconciling relationship that transcends timeand space, heaven and earth, and seeks to make peace, with each andevery soul that would come near. The head of all history, thechampion of the universe, holds out his hands to us and invites usto make peace. But not detached and proud like the kings and rulerswe know: his hands once dripped with the blood of his lovingsacrifice and even now bear the scars of his cross. And he ispleased to have done so that we, and all creation, could bereconciled to God.

To Ponder

• Read through the words of this passage slowly reflecting oneach line. Meditate and pray and ask God to open up your heart tothe greatness and glory of Christ.

• This passage is not about how to live, or how to be 'church',or how to please God. It's not about the things we worry about, orthe things we discuss in our meetings. It's about the glory of ourbeautiful saviour. Paul, in his writings and work, was alwaysfocused on putting him first. What can we learn from him aboutgetting our priorities right?