Christ is Supreme
The Supremacy of Jesus Christ
By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© May 15, 2010
The Incomparable Christ
Original Author unknown [adapted]
More than two thousand years ago,
there was a Man born contrary to the laws of nature.
This Man lived without financial status and was reared in obscurity.
He did not travel extensively…
Only once did He cross the boundary of the country in which He lived
and that was during a time of exile in His childhood.
He possessed neither wealth nor influence.
His relatives were inconspicuous and He had no education other than
what His Father provided.
He possessed no physical attractiveness
that would naturally draw people to Him.
In infancy, His birth was announced by a host of angels, a brilliant star, and notable sages, and because His tiny, helpless life was so clearly prophesied, He threatened a tyrannical, ruthless king, who put numerous innocent children, two years and younger to death in a desperate attempt to murder Him!
In childhood His knowledge and understanding
puzzled immanent theologians of the day.
In manhood He ruled the course of nature…
He walked on waves as surely as one strides across the earth,
and commanded the raging sea to become peacefully calm!
He freely healed the multitudes without medicine, even raising the dead – giving back the loved one, fully alive,
to those broken in grief at their loss.
He never wrote a book,
and yet libraries in all the world have volumes upon volumes,
recorded in every known language…that have been written
exclusively about His Person, His life, and His teachings.
He never wrote a song,
and yet He has furnished the theme for more songs
than any person in the history of the world.
He never founded a college or university,
but all the schools together cannot boast
of having as many students as He.
He never marshaled an army, never ran for public office, never called a meeting for more than twelve, yet multitudes of people were drawn to hear His words…
No leader’s principles and wisdom have ever
been credited with establishing
more genuinely peaceful and stable communities,
nations and civilizations, than He.
He never practiced medicine or established a counseling clinic,
yet He has healed more broken hearts and
mended more destroyed lives and families
than all the doctors, counselors and psychiatrists
the world could ever boast.
Each week, though thousands of years removed from His life, in cultures extremely different from His, vast multitudes of 21st Century Christians from every strata of life, gather in homes, churches and worship centers all over the world, to worship, praise and magnify His Name, and to learn from His life and teachings about God…
and to unwaveringly believe in His Return!
National dignitaries of the past, including the proud statesmen of ancient Greece and Rome, the rich and powerful
in modern China, Russia and the West,
In small countries and large, including national heroes of
Any country, in every age, at any point in history,
have all come and gone,
with few to leave a sustained mark in recorded history…
Scores of immanent scientists, philosophers, and theologians have become great but have vanished within the dark halls
of history’s illusive fame.
The name of this Man endures and has continued
to be broadcast far and wide…
To a much greater degree, thousands of years after His Resurrection, than ever before.
Though two thousand years have passed between the people of our generation and the mockers berating Him at His crucifixion,
He is the One who still lives.
His enemies could not destroy Him,
and the grave could not hold Him.
He stands upon the highest pinnacle of heaven’s glory,
Proclaimed to be the Eternal King, by God His Father!
He is worshipped by myriads of angels,
And adored by millions who have been transformed
by His Redeeming love!
He is feared by the devil and his demons,
whose power He has defeated on the cross
And, in the end, will destroy.
One day all those in heaven, those on the earth
and under the earth will honor Him…
Every tongue will confess Jesus Christ as Lord!
He is the One who said, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
Jesus Christ said, "I am the way and the truth and the life,
No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
He is the Incomparable Christ!
The previous reading gives us a glimpse of who Christ really is! Who can compare to Him? How often do we think that mankind’s wisdom and solutions can give us enduring hope, but let’s look at how painfully deficient is such vain hope:
✦Into whom or what do we put our Faith and Trust?
To whom do we entrust our daily life and eternal destiny?
Within 40 to 60 years after the prime of our life (mid 30’s), most people have lost the greatest percentage, if not all of their hard-earned, material possessions due to old age or death. Everyone will loose his or her possessions in this relatively short amount of time. Why can’t we figure out a way to have more permanence in life? Man’s wisdom has a problem sustaining anything!
• Man in his wisdom cannot sustain material wealth…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
•Man in his wisdom cannot allows us to keep anything permanently…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
•Man in his wisdom cannot indefinitely sustain power or authority…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
•Man in his wisdom cannot control the transitions of wealth and power from one generation to another…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
•Man in his wisdom cannot eliminate social ills, poverty, or permanently solve the world’s most pressing problems…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
•Man in his wisdom cannot sustain physical life…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
•Man in his wisdom cannot prevent accidents or sickness…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
•Man in his wisdom cannot give us hope of eternal life…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
If we cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man for all of these things that are so essential, then how can we trust the wisdom of mankind for our eternal life?
If we cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man, then in whom do we then put our faith and trust?
Let’s focus our attention on the following scripture portion: Colossians 1:15-20.
The Depth of Amazing Words in Scripture
The first time I remember reading Colossians 1:15-20 with meaning, was when they were written on a poster. Since my wife put the poster on my office door, the few sentences arrested my attention. Over and over I slowly repeated them to myself. The words had amazing depth, complexity and satisfaction. I repeated them again.
I couldn’t comprehend their meaning as much as I really wished, but I wanted to know more of what they were trying to make me understand.
I began to purposefully choose to know these words and the depth of their intent. Because of their profoundness they have not been easy to remember! I meditated on them and marveled at their scope and revelation! I did not make it my purpose to merely memorize these words; instead I made it my purpose to have them tucked away in the “worship” section of my heart…while at the same time fully attaching them to the memory of my mind. I placed them on the “health” activity of my spiritual exercise. I drank from their life-giving words, as necessary nutrients in my regular input of vital energy, from the “Water of Life”, needed for my Spiritual life.
I placed them on the coffee table of my heart to peruse when my mind had “down time” and I simply wanted to open up a beautiful and spiritually heartwarming book and enjoy the reality of my Savior and Lord – Who He really Is! I placed them on the easiest, accessible, “eye-level” shelf of my theological library in my heart, to keep me from false assumptions and cultic views that undermined the Deity of Christ. I have concentrated on this passage when I have been discouraged, lonely, criticized, frustrated or anxious. I am making this short six-verse passage a part of me so these Words of Scripture will have a place of permanent access. I want these verses in my heart and mind when I become sick, bereaved, unable to care for myself, or dying. Because they have such depth, I keep coming back to them for the very life they contain. I think they are finally becoming part of my heart and mind. I have printed the words onto cards to fit into my pocket so I could carry them with me to review in the “waiting rooms” of life. I’ve made the words into bookmarks to mark my place in other sections of Scripture or in other books, so I could review the words at my leisure, even when reading something else.
These words tell me into Whom I am putting my faith and trust. They tell me Who I am serving. They let me know the Person to Whom I am giving myself and my life, and that yielding fully to His Lordship, is not in vain, but most certainly in my best interest. They reveal to me that teaching my children and others to give themselves fully to Him and to His service will also be in their very best interest. These verses tell me of His Greatness, of His Power, of His Authority and in Whose Presence I will be living and Who I will be serving for eternity.
Come with me to this passage that I find so intriguing.
✦ Who is this Jesus Christ, who is so Incomparable? The One in Whom I have put my Faith and trust…to Whom I entrust my very Eternal Destiny?
Colossians 1:15-20
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And 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, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Let’s look at four primary aspects of Jesus Christ that validates our trust in Him found in Colossians 1:15-20.
1. Jesus Christ is the Visible Representation of the Invisible God!
“He is the image of the invisible God” Col. 1:15a
• Jesus is God and Man – Incarnation’s Firstborn.
A Mystery revealing Christ, who is God in flesh – God in human form…fully God and fully man.
“… the firstborn of all creation.” Col. 1:15b
His incarnation is parallel, in reverse, to what God wants redeemed humans on this planet to become…Children of God. Christ is God/Man - the firstborn God/Man of all creation; Believers who are “born again” are human/Children of God. These “human Children of God” are to be Christ’s eternal “Bride” (Eph. 5:31,32; 1 Peter 1:3-5)! We, as Children of God - human/Children of God, follow the pattern set for us by Christ, the Incarnate Firstborn God/Man. When we are “born again” we find ourselves in incarnation in reverse, “Christ in us, the Hope of Glory”! “New Birth”, born again (regenerated) by the Spirit of God (Col. 1:26,27, Titus 3:5,6; 1 Cor. 12:3; Gal. 3:26-29).
2. Jesus Christ is the One through whom God the Father Created Everything in the Universe and by whom all things hold together!
Col. 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
1 Corinthians 8
5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Hebrews 1:1-3
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high….
3. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church!
Col. 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
a. Jesus is not only the Head of the Body, He is the King and Ruler of the Universe!
“…He is the head of the body, the church” Col. 1:18a
There will not be democracy in the Kingdom of Christ. We have somewhat of a democracy in the Church because of the Priesthood of the Believer and the servant-leadership of pastors and leaders, but there is no democracy in the Heavenly Kingdom. There is only One Head of the Church: Christ. We worship Him, we obey Him, we sacrifice our lives to Him and we submit and yield everything we have and are to Him…He is the Head of the Church. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. God the Father will establish Jesus’ dominion to be a Kingdom that will break all other kingdoms of the world, but it itself will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another. His Kingdom Will Never End. He will reign forever and ever. Jesus is the Head of the Church.
Daniel 2
42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold.
Exodus 15:16
18 The Lord will reign forever and ever.” (From the “Song of Moses” when Pharaoh and his hoards were defeated at the Red Sea.)
Lamentations 5
19 But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations.
Luke 1
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Revelation 11
15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,
“ We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.
18 The nations raged, but your wrath came,
and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
Do we want to have faith in someone who will rule forever, for Eternity?
Jesus is the One in whom we can have faith that will never fail!
b. Jesus is the Beginning, the Source, from which all things follow, the Principle Cornerstone, and the Beginning Foundation – the Origin, the Source from which life originates. He is the First and the Last!
“He is the beginning [the Source/Origin - ἀρχή]” Col. 1:18
Revelation 3:14
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning [Source/Origin - ἀρχή] of God’s creation.
He is Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End
c. Jesus is the “Firstborn” from the Dead (by the Power of His Father – John 5:21; Acts 3:15; 13:30)
“the firstborn from the dead” Col. 1:18c
Does your faith need to be placed in Someone who has experienced death, conquered death and hell, experienced the “bruising of His heel”, by satan’s head, but One who conquered all the forces of darkness through His victorious Resurrection? Jesus did just that! Place your faith in Jesus!
Acts 26:23
23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
Romans 1:
4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord…
4. Jesus Christ is Preeminent, and has Supremacy, in all Things!
“…that in everything he might be preeminent.” Col. 1:18
This is the only time the Greek word for to “have first place” [πρωτεύω], is found in the New Testament. Meaning that Jesus Christ might be “Preeminent” or “Supreme”! He is the “Source” of all life and He conquered death by rising from the dead, as seen through the Power of His Resurrection!
Since He is Preeminent…since He is Supreme over all, should He not be the One in whom we can confidently place our faith and trust?
a. Jesus has All the Fullness of God the Father dwelling in Him
“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…” Col. 1:19.
Colossians 2:8
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
Hebrews 1
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
b. Jesus Reconciles all things to God the Father, through the Blood of His Cross
“…and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Col. 1:20
Should we not place our faith and trust in the One Who makes peace in the universe by reconciling all things to Himself through His own Blood?
•Reconciliation: the Cost of Peace
The cost of reconciling any person under sin’s domain, to become a Child of God, is purchased only through Christ’s Sacrificial Blood shed on the Cross.
Ephesians 2
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near [reconciled] by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one …so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross…
2 Corinthians 5
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Ephesians 1
9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
•Reconciling: the Cost of Judgment
Who could open the seals of catastrophe on the world, from the scroll of Judgment? (Rev. 5:5-7)
Peace in the world also requires justice…
“The Lamb…as if He had been slain”…
Revelation 5
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
To Whom or in What do we place our Faith?
We cannot place our faith for our lives and future in the wisdom of man, we must place ourselves, by faith, into the care of the Creator of the Universe, the Son of God, who loves us and Redeemed us from our sins by the Blood of His Cross!
Conclusion
In whom do we put our trust – in this world filled with corruption, deceit and sin?
• Man in his wisdom cannot sustain material wealth…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
•Man in his wisdom cannot allows us to keep anything permanently…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
•Man in his wisdom cannot indefinitely sustain power or authority…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
•Man in his wisdom cannot control the transitions of wealth and power from one generation to another…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
•Man in his wisdom cannot eliminate social ills, poverty, or permanently solve the world’s most pressing problems…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
•Man in his wisdom cannot sustain physical life…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
•Man in his wisdom cannot prevent accidents or sickness…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
•Man in his wisdom cannot give us hope of eternal life…
We cannot put our faith in the wisdom of man.
In Whom Can We Securely Place Our Faith?
1.Jesus Christ is the Visible Representation of the Invisible God.
2.Jesus Christ is the One through whom God the Father Created
Everything in the Universe and by whom all things hold together!
3.Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church.
4.Jesus Christ is Preeminent in all Things!
He is the Incomparable Christ, in whom we can place all our eternal hope!
