Colossians: It’s All About Jesus (Our Peace and Our New Beginning)

Hello Friends,

I hope you are doing well and are making those summer plans of adventure, discovery, and exploration. I have to share with you what I saw this week! Just a few days ago, as I was leaving the parsonage and heading to the church, I saw a baby possum with its mother laying in the yard. They were laying under the tree. A little bit of sunlight was resting upon their raspy hair as a gentle breeze caused their ears to wiggle. I even saw one them yawn! I didn’t get too close, but I did watch them for a little bit from a distance.

As I observed them, I kept thinking about what we talked about a few weeks ago with how Jesus is in, through, and for creation. For some reason, these two possums were meant to be seen by me or I was meant to be seen by those two possums. For those few minutes, I saw peace in Jesus’ creation, a peace that I needed to witness as those two possums laid in the shade with their eyes closed. Jesus, through those two possums, gave me a moment of peace because Jesus was working through creation to send me a message. I wonder what kind of signs Jesus sends us through creation that we often ignore? I just had to share this with you.

This week, we continue asking ourselves, “Who Is Jesus?” by looking at Paul’s writing to the people of Colossae. Paul shares with us that Jesus is both human and divine and that he forgives us of our sins. But what does all this mean? Before we get to that, let me remind you of what we talked about last week.

Colossians 1:17: “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (1:17). I think, out of everything that we have talked about so for, this part amazes me the most. We tend to think that God created everything and invented the laws of nature, almost like we might spin a top and then watch it go. But that’s not what’s happened. Not only did Jesus create everything, but “he upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus is holding you together. Jesus holds us when we are sad and unhappy. Jesus holds us when we aren’t listening to our parents. Jesus holds us when we get scared or are “frightened by the monsters on T.V.” Jesus holds us when we feel alone and don’t feel good. And Jesus evens holds us when we are happy, joyful, excited, full of energy, listening to our parents, being nice to our siblings, and sharing his love with everyone. It’s almost like Jesus is walking around with super glue and duct tape waiting to hold us and put us back together. Jesus holds all things together because he’s got the whole world in his hands, and that includes you.

Now, let’s look at this week’s lesson…

Colossians 1:18-20: Paul notes, “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. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (1:18-20)

Not only is Jesus supreme, not only is he the creator and sustainer, but he’s also head of the church. When he became human, he did so not by laying aside his nature as God. Every part of his divine nature was present in his humanity. As a human, he was still fully God. And then he dealt with our sin problem by dying for our sins. He then busted out of the grave to defeat death. He solved our two biggest problems: sin and death, so that anyone who trusts in him no longer has to be afraid.

That’s amazing! Jesus is human–just like you and me–but he is also God–the creator of “the heavens and the earth.” And he walked upon this very earth! How cool is that?! However, it could be hard to understand this. So let me offer you some help…. Jesus, although the Son of God as one who can perform miracles, can also cry, experience pain and suffering, and laugh and smile just like you and me. This means that Jesus has authority over us but also lives with us. This is amazing? And the best part is, is that this Jesus not only lives with us but lives within us, within our heart each and every day.

And not only this, but he’s also reconciling everything to himself, meaning he is restoring and fixing everything. He’s fixing the entire universe. What does it mean that he’s reconciling everything to himself? It means that everyone and everything will ultimately be submitted to Jesus: we will follow him, obey him, trust him, love him, and put our faith in him. When we become reconciled by Jesus, we are made new, we are restored, and our sins–our bad stuff–is forgiven. Jesus is the one who helps us on this earth to be restored so that we can be made new in heaven.

As Jesus reconciles us, because he died on the cross for us, we grants us peace. When life gets busy, Jesus grants us peace. When life seems hard, Jesus grants us peace. When life seems overwhelming and crazy, Jesus grants us peace. Just like those two possums who offered me peace, Jesus offers us peace when we need to slow down and be made new. Jesus is truly amazing! And he is always finding ways to work and be in our life.

Take a look at Jesus. He is glorious. He’s over everything. He created and holds everything. He’s fixing everything. Everything exists for him. His glory solves our greatest need. Our greatest need is to see Jesus in all of his glory.

So who is Jesus to you? Is Jesus granting you peace and making you new? Let Jesus live within you today and every day!

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!

Lessons Borrowed From: https://www.dashhouse.com/renewing-our-vision-of-jesus-colossians-115-23/