Who is Jesus?

August 14, 2023

This week we read Colossians and 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Our focus will be on Colossians 1:15-20.  I will use other texts as well.

Matthew 16:13-16 says. “¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is? ¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am? ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

In John 10:30 Jesus states, “I and the Father are on.” John14:9 says, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the father.”

Jesus says that he is the Son of the living God. He also says that He and the Father are one. If you read the entire Bible, you see that Jesus is part of the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

During the time that Paul wrote to the Colossians, there was heresy in the church. One of the many issues was that some people did not believe that Jesus was God. They felt that Jesus was a created being, and not the creator. Paul disputes this in Colossians 1:15-20. Here is the text.

“¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ 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.”

Let’s break this down.

Who is Jesus?

• He is God’s Son
• He is God. Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit are all one. They represent the “trinity”-God in 3 persons.” John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…”  This is beyond our comprehension.
• He is the image of the invisible God. What does this mean? It means that God is invisible, and Jesus is an exact visible representation of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Hebrews 1:3 says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being…”
  • Jesus shows us what God the Father is like, through his life, death, and resurrection. God is a God of love and mercy who sent his Son to die on a cross so that we would become reconciled with God and live eternally with him. He sent Jesus into the world so that all people could know God, believe God, and trust in God.
• Jesus is the first born over creation. In Jesus, all things have been created. This does not mean that Jesus was created first. Remember, Jesus is the creator. Paul was using the term as an expression of status. Psalm 89:27 says, “I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth.” Thus, Paul is saying that Jesus is before all things created, and he is over all creation. He is supreme.
• Jesus is the creator of all things in the heavens and on earth including those heavenly hosts. He has power overall, even the angels. John 1:3 says, “all things came into being through Him, and apart from him nothing came into being that has come into being.” John 8:56-58 says, “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad. They said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham! Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am.” The term “I am” is what God called himself in the Old Testament, and Jesus is saying that he existed before Abraham, he is eternal and that he is God. He is the creator.
• All things have been created through him and for him. Through him means, according to one translation, that “Christ was the location from whom all came into being and in whom all creation is contained. “For him means that Christ created all to bring God and Jesus glory. Revelation 4:11 says, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
• Jesus. Is before all things. This, again, is saying that Jesus was here before anything. He is God.
• In Jesus, all things are hold together. Jesus is the glue that holds the universe together. The word in Greek is “synistemi.” According to Wink, this means that Christ is “the System of the systems.” He is the basic operating principle controlling existence. Jesus continually sustains His creation preventing it from going into chaos.
• Jesus is head of the body, the church. There are many passages that talk about the body of Christ and that the church is interdependent on its parts (Romans 12:4; 1 Cor 12:12-31). The head can have a few definitions. According to one commentator, “head”, “beginning”, and “first born” all have the same root in Hebrew and affirms Christ’s sovereignty in the church and creation. Head can also mean that He is one who directs or governs the body.
• He is the beginning and first born of the dead. He was the first to raise from the dead and ascend into heaven. He is the first to have a resurrected body.
• He is the beginning and firstborn so that he might have the supremacy.
• Jesus is the fullness of God. He is the complete embodiment of God.
• Jesus reconciles all creation through his death on the cross. This reference shows that while Jesus is supreme, he came down to earth, lived a sinless life, and died a humiliating death on a cross so that we could be reconciled to him and have eternal life.

After reading about the real Jesus, think about how you see Jesus. Do you give him the respect and honor that he deserves? Have you realized what he has done on the cross for you so that you may be reconciled with God and have forgiveness of sins?

How would you describe Jesus in your day-to-day life?

I pray that we all will know Jesus better each day through pray, worship, and reading the Bible. I pray that you will have the faith in Him to follow Him.

Next week we will read 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Have a blessed week.