Colossians 1:15-20

This passage tells us something about Jesus’ relationship to the Father, creation and the Church. We read in it about how Paul understood the pre-eminence of Christ, expressed in who he was and who he is to us as believers, and the purpose for which he came into this world. It’s starting point is not unlike John ch.1 declaring Christs pre-existence and involvement in creation. Paul elaborates on what that included: not just the seen, but the unseen world as well. This involvement of Christ in creation helps us understand the verse in Genesis which speaks of God making man in ‘our image’ (Ge. 1:26), the whole Godhead is involved.

Whilst the image in us is broken, in Christ it is the precise image of God (Jn.14:9). If we want to know God, we find him in Jesus. Everything exists in him, for him and through him. He has now become head of the Church and the first to rise from the dead. Jesus can do what no mere human can do – he can reconcile us to God. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, so in Jesus rests the sum total of all divine power and attributes. Only one who has reconciled being God and man in himself is qualified to bring us back to God, and because of this he has the pre-eminence. In ways we cannot comprehend this baby in a manger was the one who flung stars into space.

God is creator and redeemer, he is a God of mercy and love, and one who has a plan to rescue people from death to life.

Reflection

Some theologians think these verses are part of an early church hymn or poem, some would disagree. Either way it is often written out as a poem. Perhaps we could think of it as a NT psalm? Take a few moments to read it through again and use it as the vehicle for your time of worship and thanks to God for Christ, our redeemer.