Who Is Jesus: Jesus is In, For, and Through Creation (Part II)

Sermon Title: Who Is Jesus: The Revealing of Someone Great

Good News Statement: Jesus invites us to know who he is

Preached: Sunday, April 21, 2024 at Dogwood Prairie and Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Colossians 1:15-16 Today’s scripture reading comes from Paul’s letter to the people of Colossae. Paul is hearing word from Ephesus that the Colossians are doing well in their faith but have lost sight of who Jesus is in their life. So, Paul writes a letter describing and defining who Jesus is. Let’s read Colossians Chapter One, verses Fifteen thru Sixteen. May the hearing and reading of this scripture add understanding and meaning to your life.

 

The Supremacy of Christ

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, ¹⁶ for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

Introduction:

The “Big Bang” Theory was thought up almost 100 years ago, in 1922, by Alexander Friedmann, who used Albert Einstein’s relativity to estimate the universe’s age; and scientists and the public have accepted this theory as the origin of the universe for over 50 years. Yet, it still holds many mysteries since about 95% of the universe is invisible.

Most physicists believe the universe was born nearly 14 billion years ago. In it, the energy making up everything in the cosmos we see today was squeezed inside an inconceivably small space—far tinier than a grain of sand, or even an atom. Then, this unimaginably hot and dense cauldron—for whatever reason—ballooned at a terrifying rate.

After 20 minutes of heating the dense cauldron, the universe was no longer hot enough for fusion. What was left was a hot, cloudy soup of electrons and hydrogen and helium gases. This stage lasted for about 380,000 years. Eventually, the cosmos cooled. It then took hundreds of millions of years for the first stars to form and light up the darkness, and even longer for the universe to start to resemble what we see today.

The universe, its creation and contents, is truly a mystery. This mystery, although perplexing and puzzling to us humans, baffling our minds and challenging our understanding of creation, makes perfect sense to the one who created it and said, “It was good.” As the Psalmist notes, “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are humans that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3). The one that created this mystery and said “It was good,” is the one who established the moon and the stars with His fingers,  who cares for us humans, who cares for the animals of the land and sea, who cares for the animals that fly in the sky, and who cares for the plants and vegetation that covers this very earth. The one that cares for us and all creation is the one who loved the world so much that “he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16). The one that began the Big Bang almost 14 billion years ago is the same one who, through Jesus Christ, walked this very earth.

God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, is the one who cares, who creates, who establishes, and who helps us understand who Jesus is in our life. I began our time together, reminding us of the “Big Bang” theory because today we learn more about Paul’s understanding of who Jesus is, and Paul’s understanding of who Jesus is has to do with creation. Did you know that Jesus was present during creation? Did you know Jesus was present when God, the Father, said “It was good”? Did you know Jesus was there when God established the moon and the stars with His fingers? Jesus was there. But what does this mean for us today?

In order to help the people of Colossae understand who Jesus is, Paul tells them that creation is in Jesus, through Jesus, and for Jesus. Creation, everything we see, everything we hear, everything we feel, everything we smell, and even the things that are mysterious to us tell us something about who Jesus is; but are we paying attention to creation? So, how does creation help us understand who Jesus is?

Body:

Last week, I asked you “Who is Jesus,” as a means to help you begin thinking how you would describe Jesus to someone in your life. Is Jesus a comforter? Is Jesus a healer? Is Jesus a teacher, a giver, or a provider? Is Jesus a challenger? Is Jesus a motivator, a source of encouragement, or a spark of inspiration? Who is Jesus to you?

Before the earthquake destroyed the city of Colossae in the 60’s AD, Paul wrote the people there a letter to help them better understand who Jesus is. You see, the Colossians lost sight of how profound and meaningful Jesus is to their life and faith: they placed knowing Jesus on the back-burner instead of placing him at the top of their lists. So, Paul began by telling the people, “[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation…” (Colossians 1:15). The people know that Jesus is the redeemer and forgiver of their sins; but, they forgot that Jesus is the image of the invisible God and is the firstborn of all creation. First, Jesus is the image of the invisible God meaning that God’s inner beauty and glory is seen through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the one who makes the invisible visible, the unseen seen, and strives to “seek out and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Jesus sees what we can’t see; Jesus hears what we can’t hear; Jesus knows what we don’t know; and Jesus calls out who we choose to ignore and not love. Jesus as the image of the invisible God signifies our ability to see what God needs us to see.

Second, Jesus is the firstborn of all creation. This means that Jesus has authority and power. Jesus has authority upon which God had called good. Jesus has power and from this power Jesus protects God’s creation. Jesus rules over creation. Nothing, nothing, is above Jesus; therefore, we shouldn’t treat Jesus as someone who is second in our life. Jesus being identified as the firstborn is not about rank: it’s about supremacy, authority, and respect. It’s about us realizing that Jesus, the Son of the Most High God, deserves our attention and our willingness to be open to his teachings and callings upon our life.

Paul begins his description of Jesus by establishing who Jesus is and what Jesus does. Everything that follows in this first chapter of Colossians is based upon verse fifteen. This leads us to Paul’s next description of Jesus which appears in verse sixteen: “for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). This verse offers us three perspectives: it tells us something, provides us something, and teach us something about Jesus.

Movement One: What The Text Tells Us

What does this text tell us? The third distinctive of the glory of Christ is that he created all things; all creation is designed for him, in him, and he preserves creation. Christ not only created all things, but all things continue to subsist because of him. Let’s break this text down…

“For in him all things were created.” John 1:3 says that Christ created the universe: “All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.” Additionally Hebrews 1:2 says the Son made the universe: “but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things through whom he also created the worlds.” God is the originating cause—the creator of the heavens and the earth—and the Son is how the world came into being (Revelation 3:14): through love and not hate, through acceptance and not judgment, and through being visible and not being invisible. The extent of Christ’s creation is “all” things. The word “all” includes the entire universe, whether material or immaterial, heaven or earth. For Jesus all things were created so that all things could and would and should come to know who Jesus Christ is in this world. All creation points us to Jesus Christ, but do we see creation that way?

The verse continues, “that are in heaven and that are on earth visible and invisible.” We already know that Jesus makes the invisible visible, but did you know that Jesus is here for both the invisible and visible. This portion of the verse refers to the material universe—the things that are tangible, the things we can see, touch, hear, and smell. Jesus is here for the material things in this world, which includes you and me. Jesus is also here for the immaterial universe—the things and people we cannot see, touch, or hear, which includes our enemies and people we don’t agree with or see-eye-to-eye with. The Gospel of Luke informs us, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, [and] to set free those who are oppressed…” (Luke 4:18). Jesus is here for the poor, for the captives, for the blind, and for the oppressed. Jesus helped create all that we see and don’t see. Jesus is here for all things in heaven and all things upon this earth whether we see them or not. Are we willing to see all of this creation—the good, the bad, the received, and the neglected? I hope so, because Jesus does every day and he needs us to do the same thing.

The verse continues: “whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers…” The words “thrones,” “dominions,” “rulers,” and “powers” probably refer, according to several biblical scholars, to angelic beings and human government. In part, these terms specify the hierarchy of angels. The Colossians worshipped angels, created beings, according to Colossians 2:18: “Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels….” Christ’s sovereign reign is over the angels, all angelic organizations whether good or evil. Furthermore, Christ’s sovereign reign is over all the governments of the world. After all, don’t we end the Pledge of Allegiance proclaiming “One Nation, Under God, Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all?” And is it not inscribed upon our currency “In God We Trust”? Jesus Christ has power and control over all of creation. He even has control over your life, as Jeremiah tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jesus has control  over this creation, so when will you let him be the controller and guider of your life? When will you truly live out, “In God I Trust”?

The verse ends with these words, “all things have been created through him and for him.” The first part of this verse says that all things were created “through him.” That is, Jesus is the cause of creation, and he designed creation since he can neither be created nor destroyed: creation came from within Jesus Christ and was poured out before us. However, in this phrase, all things were created “through him.” Jesus is the instrument of creation. Jesus Christ is the agent whereby the universe was created. Jesus walked upon this earth. Jesus talked to believers and non-believers. Jesus ate with those faithful and those who were enemies. Jesus was the “big bang” meaning that his presence caused a significant reaction and change amongst the people. Through him all things were made, because of him creation was born. Would there be a creation if Jesus didn’t exist?

Additionally, creation was designed “for him.” The word “for” is a term of purpose. Creation is designed for the purpose of glorifying Christ. He is the goal of creation. He is the purpose of creation. He is the reason of and for creation. He is the meaning of and for creation. He is the breath of and for creation. He is the life, death, and resurrection of and for creation. Jesus is the one ingredient in a recipe that binds everything together; he is the missing piece that completes the puzzle; he is the light of the unlit candle. Christ is creation and through creation we experience and glorify Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Jesus is the purpose, reason, and meaning of and for creation.

So, what does this text tell us about who Jesus is? It tells us that through him and for him and in him, all things in heaven and upon earth have been created and that he is the sovereign Lord who rules over all creation today, tomorrow, and every day. After all, he is the “firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15). Now that we have analyzed the text the next question that we need to ask ourselves is “What does the text provide us?”

 

Movement Two: What The Text Provides Us

In his commentary on the Letters of Colossians and Philemon, biblical scholar David E. Garland brings this verse into the present age. He states, “Today we may not fear the same things or express our fears in the same way, but most still believe that we live in a threatening world. Some forego any hope; others look for some kind of security to protect themselves.” Why do people feel this way? Because people feel as if Jesus can’t be found in creation anymore. Between terrorist bombings, innocent lives being taken from us, drive-by shootings, church burnings, massacres taking place at concert events, in shopping stores, and even at schools, and wars and conflicts happening everywhere, in addition to floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and droughts, it’s no wonder people feel as if Jesus can’t be found in creation.

You can turn on the news and catch yourself asking, “Where is Jesus in all this? Is he even still part of what was created in him, for him, and through him?” This realization reinforces the impression that this world is dark and dangerous. It becomes harder and harder to believe that this creation, in which God called “good,” can be redeemed by its Creator and Sustainer.

The reality is, Christians are sustained in all this, in all that is happening around them. We witness, every day, the opposite of what Jesus wants for his creation but we don’t give up because we have hope, we have faith, and we have trust in a God that “helps us, supports us, and leads us with His victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). A gracious and loving God will determine our destiny. Paul affirms for us that the world is not a purposeless accident in the chemistry lab or just a “Big Bang.” Paul makes it very clear that we cannot understand God, creation, or God’s purpose for creation apart from Christ. If creation has been created by Christ, then it is never meaningless. If we belong to Christ, then it means that we too have a place in the cosmic story: we have a reason to be here, we have a purpose to live and care for this creation, and we have a calling to make sure Jesus is seen, heard, and felt within this creation, even when it darkness surrounds it.

As followers of Christ, it is our duty, our obligation, to look around this creation and witness how Christ is involved. When we look at the trees, flowers, and grass, we are meant to see things that grow and bloom instead of things that will wither and die. When we hear the birds singing, the frogs croaking, and the wolves howling, we are meant to hear the precious sounds of creation instead of sounds that annoy us. When we see people outside walking or see people sitting on front porches or see people working the land, we are meant to witness God’s people at work instead of witnessing people that we call our enemies. When we look at creation, we are called to see Christ: justice that rolls down like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24). But, it’s tough to see God’s creation as Jesus wants us to see it because of the darkness that continues to loom over ever thing on this earth.

Christians need to make clear for our turn-of-the-century world with its technological wizardry and terrors, its great economic prosperity and economic despair, that our universe is not a godless and impersonal gaming house. Jesus Christ is its center, its origin, and its destiny. According to Wink, “The resurrection victory of God in Christ is grounded in the very fabric of the cosmos.” Could you imagine what God’s creation would be like today if all people treated it as an extension of Jesus Christ? Could you imagine how this world would look if people made it a point to see Jesus Christ in all of creation? Could you imagine what this world would look like if people made it a point and priority to put Jesus Christ back into creation? Could you imagine how this world would look if we lived as Jesus is the very fabric of the cosmos? It might look like heaven…

In spite of all appearances to the contrary, God still has plans for this shadowy and suffocated by hatred and violent world, and he will accomplish the glorious purposes intended from the beginning. We are meant to be here, and God knows that which is why He sent his Son, the very Son which is in creation, for creation, and through creation. This specific text from Paul provides us with the encouragement that even in a world filled with darkness, hatred, deceit, destruction, and war, we can still find a Jesus that is loving, kind, grace-filled, and understanding. It may not seem like Jesus is in his creation sometimes, but he is: we just have to remind ourselves that he is, and that he is waiting for us to realize that he has never left.

Michael Jackson once sang, “Heal the world, make it a better place, for you and for me and for the entire human race.” This place could be much brighter tomorrow than today when we realize that there is still goodness in this dark world because Jesus is still part of this creation longing to make it a better place. We are here. Jesus is here. Let’s make this world a better place.

 

Movement Three: What The Text Teaches Us

This text tells us about who Jesus is, and provides us with hope that Jesus hasn’t left his creation. The last thing this text does for us is that it teaches us about what we need to do as followers of Christ to live out the reality that creation is in, for, and through Jesus Christ.

First, Colossians 1:16 reminds us that we were created for Christ. The following  verse goes on to talk about how Jesus is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together. Let this soak in. Right now you are breathing, your lungs are working, your heart is beating because Jesus Himself is giving your heart rhythm, is providing strength, and air to your lungs. Jesus is doing that. He is our creator, our sustainer, and He is our Lord. All things are created by Him, through Him, and for Him. It’s all about Him. We are created for Him, for His glory, for His exaltation, not for ourselves. Everything we have is not ultimately for us, it’s ultimately for Him. When you realize these things about Jesus, it changes the way you live. It changes the way you pray. We are for Jesus.

I recently read a blogpost that asked “Who am I living for?” The author answered that question: “Well, I live for my God. The God who breathes meaning and purpose into my existence, my relationships, my career, my joys, and even my suffering. In Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. I could crack or crumble, but the mighty hands that hold me never will. May I allow the recognition of His unfathomable love to fuel my every breath, thought, word, and deed.” Who do you live for? Jesus lived and died for you, but are you living for him? It’s time we begin doing more things for Jesus Christ in our life.

Second, Colossians 1:16 praises Jesus as our creator. Jesus, we praise you right now as our creator. We praise you as our sustainer. We praise you for giving us life, we praise you for sustaining our life. And not just our life, but the lives of all those around us. The world is spinning right now because you are causing it to rotate. The sun is shining right now, the moon is shining right now because you’re causing it to shine. The oceans are stopping where they do at the coast because you’re telling them to stop right there. Everything in creation is responding to your bidding right now. We praise you as our creator, as our sustainer, and as our Lord.

We say to you everything we have is yours. So we belong to you. You are our creator. You own us. And we are so glad you do. We are so glad because you are a loving creator, and you are a merciful sustainer, and you have made a way for us to be safe from our sins to experience life in you. We lay our lives before you in a fresh way, right now in prayer, and we say use us for you. Remember, Jesus is for creation; meaning, he is for you, he is with you, and he is never going to abandon you because you are part of his creation. Give praise that Jesus is for you and with you. Jesus is for you, but are you for Jesus?

Lastly, Colossians 1:16 wants Jesus to use our lives. The best way I can explain this portion of Paul’s interpretation is to recite John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer: “I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you, Praised for you or criticized for you. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service. And now, O wonderful and holy God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, you are mine, and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, Let it also be made in heaven. Amen.”

More often than not, we find ourselves believing that we own creation. Sure we own land because we paid for it. Sure we own the flowers planted in the garden. Sure we own the well that was dug on our property to retrieve a water source. But we don’t actually own creation. Creation belongs to God and Jesus Christ: we are merely renting what belongs to the makers. Therefore, we should be living our lives in a way that invites Jesus to use us instead of us using Jesus to get what we want. “I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will…. Put me to doing….”

This particular verse about Jesus teaches us that we are living within God’s creation and that we should be willing to be used by Jesus and for Jesus to maintain the creation that God called “good.” Everything, every relationship we have, every thought we possess, every desire we have, everything, every word we say, every action we take, Jesus, may it all be done for you today.

 

Conclusion:

Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Jesus is the firstborn over all creation. And Jesus is in, for, and through creation because all things have been created in his presence, and nothing is above him. Through this description of Jesus, we learn not only who Jesus is but what he is telling us, providing us, and teaching us. Jesus is telling us that he is the sovereign Lord who rules over all creation today, tomorrow, and every day. Jesus is providing us with the encouragement that even in a world filled with darkness, hatred, deceit, destruction, and war, we can still find a Jesus that is loving, kind, grace-filled, and understanding. It may not seem like Jesus is in his creation sometimes, but he is; and he has never left. And Jesus teaches us that we are living within God’s creation and that we should be willing to be used by Jesus and for Jesus to maintain the creation that God called “good.”

Jesus is more than the “Big Bang” theory that took place almost 14 billion years ago. Jesus is the one who all things have been created: in him all things in heaven and on earth were created; by him all things, invisible and visible, have a purpose; and through him, we have the wonderful opportunity to heal this broken world and to make it a better place. The question becomes, how will you do that? How will you find Jesus in all of creation so that we can say, “It is good”?

As you find Jesus within his creation this week, keep asking yourself, “Who Is Jesus?” When you ask yourself that question, keep your ears open, because what you hear just might change your life.  Let it be so…

 

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, we seek to know you more; we seek to see and hear you more; and we seek to know who you are in our life so that we can continue to grow our faith and walk in your footsteps as we strive to feel your presence in all things. In your holy and mighty name, we pray. Amen.

 

Benediction:

Who is Jesus to you? How will you seek out Jesus in this creation? Take a few minutes this week to contemplate these questions and let Jesus guide you to an answer. May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, go forth seeking Jesus in your life. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.