Jump Start # 884

Colossians 1:15 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

Paul in this section of Colossians identifies the deity of Jesus Christ. He does this with a series of “He is…” expressions.

• He is the image of the invisible God (15)
• He is before all things (17)
• He is the also the head of the body, the church (18)
• He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead (18)

There are other “Him” expressions in this section.

• By Him all things were created (15)
• All things were created through Him and for Him (16)
• In Him all things hold together (17)
• All the fullness dwells in Him (19)
• Through Him to reconcile all things to Himself (20)

Our wonderful Savior—that ought to be what we walk away with from this section. He is. This is similar to the words of Hebrews 11, “And without faith  it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” He is.

He is—is present tense. He is. We might catch a ballgame with some great athlete who is in the last years of his career. His best days are behind him. The fans still love him, but he just can’t run as fast as he used to. We might catch a concert with some aged rock ‘n roller still trying to sing like he did forty years ago. His voice can’t hit the all the notes any longer. His best years are behind him. Not so for Jesus. He is.

The other side of this is that we might catch a young player and think in a few years he will be really good. He’s not there yet, but he will be. Not so with Jesus. He is.

The Jesus that was hitting on all cylinders with the apostles is the same Jesus today. He is. You have not missed anything.

Jesus can forgive just as He did in the Gospels—He is.

Jesus can bless just as He did in the Gospels—He is.

Jesus can lead just as He did in the Gospels—He is.

Jesus can be trusted just as He was in the Gospels—He is.

Jesus can love just as He did in the Gospels—He is.

It is amazing to love, follow, obey and commit your life to the living Jesus. He is. And because He is, we are. Because He is alive, I shall live. Because He arose, I shall rise. Because He dwells in Heaven, I can dwell in Heaven.

He is.

Roger