Part 2
In the previous post, we talked about some of the essentials of Jesus. First, Jesus is the Word who was with God and is God. Jesus was instrumental in the creation of all things including the creation of man. He is not only "The" Creator, but he created everything for himself; meaning everything has value. In Genesis we read "In the beginning, God created...." In chapter 1 verse 2,7 we are told man was created in God's image. Up to this point in the creation story, everything that was created was "good." However, in verse 31, God saw that all that He had made was "very good."
I point this out to encourage you that you were created by Jesus, for Jesus, and that it was a "very good" thing. I, for one, find great comfort that Jesus takes pleasure in "my" existence as his creation. I hope you feel the same.
It is important for us to understand Jesus, as God, is not some deity floating around in the universe, but that he is relational with his creation. As mentioned in part 1, we recall Jesus was and is the firstborn over all creation;
"heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him."
Verse 17 tells us he is before all things and then gives us comfort and assurance by telling us,
"...by Him all things hold together ."
This is incredible! Jesus holds all things together; meaning nothing just spins out of control even to the point our cells do not autodestruct. But, how does Jesus do this? Turn to the book of Hebrews to find the answer.
"Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, who He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. He (Jesus) is the radiance of His (God's) glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He (Jesus) sustains all things by the power of His Word."
Heb 1:1-3
That's it. Jesus holds all things together by His word. We have now seen how Jesus relates to creation in the way he created everything and the way in which he holds it together. We know from scripture Jesus is the firstborn and holds first rank over all creation.
Considering Jesus' relationship to mankind, we have to remember there are two categories of mankind; those who know and follow Jesus as their Savior and Lord and those who do not. Those who do not are not part of the children of God and have no claim to a saving relationship with Jesus. Those who proclaim Jesus as Savior and Lord fall into the category of those having a saving relationship with Jesus and are thus labeled as "the church" as in Colossians 1:18. The importance of this lies in the fact that the "church" is not one single church but is made up of all believers in the world and is referred to as "the body."
The bible tells us Jesus is the head of this body; therefore, we as believers are his children or followers. Verse 18 continues to tell us Jesus is "the beginning, the firstborn from the dead." This is not the same reference to firstborn as in verse 15. Here the word firstborn is referring to being the firstborn (to have been resurrected) from the dead. This continues to support the fact that Jesus has first place in everything, including all things after death and resurrection. Verse 19 reads,
"For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him and through Him...."
God announced his being pleased with Jesus in other places in scripture. If you read Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus is being baptized by John the Baptist. As Jesus was coming up from the water, God spoke from heaven:
"This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him!"
Other versions of scripture use the words, "in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 12:18,
"Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased."
Peter, in speaking to fellow believers said,
"For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, a voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory (God): This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him or (I am well pleased with Him)." 2 Peter 2:16-17.
One other essential part of Jesus' relationship with the Father, namely his obedience, is revealed in John 6:38.
"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me."
It is vital to understand Jesus' relationship with the Father was not only one of belonging to the "Trinity: God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit," but to further understand Jesus was obedient to the will of the Father as must we be as well. Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, as the time for his journey to the cross drew near, said,
"Father, if it's your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, not my will but your will must be done.” Luke 22:42
To recap what we have found out in the above verses, Jesus is "The Creator." He is before all things positionally, relationally, and authoritatively. He is the Head of the Church, the body of believers further enforcing the truth that he has a relationship with all mankind universally as Creator, but more importantly, a "saving" relationship with all who call on His name as Savior and Lord. We also discovered Jesus came not only to save man, but to do the will of the Father even at the cost of his own life here on earth.
What a wonderful Savior!
Part 3 will conclude with why God was pleased with Jesus, how Jesus death on the cross satisfied God's judgment on sin, and the effect of his death and resurrection relating to believers.
Wear Jesus Well
Blessings,
Steve
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