Read Colossians 1:15-28. We know the gospel news of Jesus, but sometimes we can forget just what an amazing thing it is. We can track the story of Jesus on earth. He was born as a Jew two thousand years ago in Bethlehem. He worked as a spiritual healer and teacher around Galilee, and then extended his mission to Jerusalem, where things got very political. The religious authorities hated him and arranged for him to be handed over to the occupying power, the Roman Empire. He got put to death by being hung on a cross, a Roman tool of torture.
That happened about two thousand years ago. Before then, and since then, many other people – good and bad - have died because of politics. But this story of Jesus is different. That’s one key message from today’s text.
Imagine the most powerful ruler. Imagine the most inspiring preacher. Imagine the most intelligent professor. Jesus reigns above all these. If you want a picture of God, look to Jesus. “By him, all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him” (Col 1:16).
It’s good to learn from Christian leaders, but we don’t follow them absolutely. Christian leaders point us to Christ. We follow Christ. Sometimes leaders get involved in church politics. Some get distracted by their own ideas. They lose their way. That was happening to the Colossians. They were listening to leaders who were complicating the path to God.
Those leaders had secret knowledge and secret methods. You’d have to learn from them to follow the Way. But no – the path is direct. What you need is faith. Faith that Jesus changed things on a cosmic scale after dying for love on the cross.
God covers all in Jesus – and God’s love is offered to all in Jesus. No-one is excluded. No-one is left out. “God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 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” (Col 1:20).
Jesus is above all – he has a first-son relationship to God and all creation. And yet – where else is he? He’s in us! He’s in his followers! And he’s not just in followers who were called by the Sea of Galilee in the first century AD. He’s not just in Middle-Eastern citizens – the people who shared his culture and language on Earth. Paul refers to “the saints”, the ordinary believers. “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27).
Christ in you! Christ – who is all – can be in all!
No wonder Paul is fired up with the goal to “present everyone perfect in Christ” (Cor 1:28). He will proclaim, admonish and teach. Loud words, correcting words, coaching words. By every means, he wants to both bring people to Christ and to help them grow in Him. That’s our job, too! Amen.
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