So why don't you open up Col 1:13-29 and read through it with me. There will be plenty to add, so please do!
That Christmas baby is...
The king of the kingdom of light. He is the redeemer, the one who achieves the forgiveness of sins (13-14).
The image of the invisible God (v.15). This means:
- Jesus shows us the God we can't see (see also John 1:1-18), because he is God.
- Jesus is the perfectly human, perfect image bearer of God (Gen 1:26-28).
Jesus is the firstborn over all creation (v.15).This means:
- He is heir of it all, as God's Son.
- Jesus is also leader of all creation as the perfect man who has it all under his feet (Psalm 8, Hebrews 2).
- God the Son, second person of the Trinity, was active in the creation of the world. The same world he was later to enter and redeem and restore.
- There is no more asking, "What am I here for? What is the meaning of life?". Jesus. It's all from and for Jesus.
- There is nothing which Jesus does not have a right to and authority over.
- Creation depends on him, not the other way around. In Jesus, God the Son, everything holds together and makes sense. It all conforms to his rule and purpose (v.17).
- In creation, because he is God who caused creation.
- In redemption, because he achieved it (in his death); guarantees it (in his resurrection - firstborn from the dead); and he will bring it to conclusion by reconciling all things in himself.
What a vision of Jesus to keep in mind as we think about that baby hidden away in shame and weakness. So much to savour and so much yet to understand!
I'm sure you've noticed I skipped huge bits of the passage, we'll cover that soon!









