Contributor: Alex Alajiki

INTRODUCTION:

In our last bible study, we saw that Jesus distinguished Himself from the poor when He declared that;

    “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me” (John 12:8 NIV)

We also saw Him demonstrated the wealthy mentality when He was not the least bothered when perfume worth a year’s salary was used to anoint His feet, but others with the poor mentality saw it as wastage. This is because Jesus is the king of kings and He want this mindset to also be in us (Rev.5:9-10).

This week, we are considering who Jesus really was and is. Colo.1:15-20

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

1.  Jesus is the image of the invisible God; Col.1:15

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

During creation, “God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). We were created in God’s image and after His likeness. We were made to be like God in certain respects, but not equal to God. He gave us dominion over all the earth, and created us with a mind capable of creative thought and the ability to know Him. Adam used the creative mind of God to name all animals (Gen.2:20).

How do we know God? In Colo. 1:15, Paul re­minds us that Jesus Christ is “the image of the invisible God.” Again, “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Col. 2:9). It is “in the face of Jesus Christ” that we can know God (2 Cor. 4:6). During Jesus’ earthly ministry, Philip asked him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus responded, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:8–9).

The lesson here is that, believers are also the very image of Christ on earth like the Father. Isa.43:10

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.”

2. Jesus is the creator of the universe: Col.1:16-17

“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.”

Paul very carefully defines the fullness of Christ’s work, power, and function as Creator.

First, Paul says that "all things were created by Christ" and later adds "...through him and for him." (Colo. 1:16). All things were created by Christ, through Christ, and for Christ. That doesn't leave any room to detract from Christ’s creative work or his part in Creation.

Second, the scope of Christ’s creation was all things "that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible" (Colo. 1:16). Paul makes sure we do not think that Jesus was the Creator of merely physical and visible things.

Third, Paul includes all authorities, "thrones or dominions or principalities or powers" (Colo.1:16).

Christ himself has no Creator. He created, and has dominion over, all creatures: angels, gods, devils, human beings, animals, mountains or anything else.

However great any dominion may be, Christ is its Creator and that makes Him greater, the supreme Ruler over all. This supreme authority was recognized by God (the Father) when he "delivered us from the power of darkness into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Colo. 1:13).

Now consider Jesus' real home, the place He created for Himself and, eventually, for us to dwell in. Remember, everyone endeavours to make his own home a place that is suited to his own tastes, a place where it is comfortable for him to live. Jesus' home was described for us in the Book of Rev.21:10-12,18,19,21

“... the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates. . .. The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stones. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.”

Who could design and create such a magnificent dwelling place? Psalm 24:10 gives us the answer:

"Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory."

3. Jesus is the head of the body, the Church; Col.1:18

“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

Since Jesus is the head of the body, the Church, the Church must enjoy all His privileges.

At the end of Jesus' earthly ministry, His own disciples testified that they never lacked anything.

Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered. Luke 22:35 (NIV)

If the disciples testified that they had experienced no lack as they carried out their ministry assignments, we can assume that they had a full supply and abundant provision. At the very least, they had enough, an adequate supply for their needs. And that's not poor!

CONCLUSION

Jesus was with the Father at the dawn of creation and lived in Heaven with the Father and the angels. Rev. 21:21 says that the streets of Heaven are pure gold. Gold to Jesus is what asphalt is to us! Jesus created this world with all its gold, silver, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and every kind of natural resource. The cattle upon a thousand hills are His. He created them all. No wonder He wasn't the least bit bothered by a little perfume being poured upon His feet.

                   Part of this teaching was taken from “THE MIDAS TOUCH” by Kenneth E. Hagin.