Today, I want us to consider yet another title given to our Savior by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through the prophet Isaiah. The title of "Mighty God."
One of the premier passages in the New Testament that describes the might of our Savior is Colossians 1:15-20. Most scholars think that Colossians 1:15-20 make up a poem or a hymn that the early Church used to speak of what they believed about Jesus. Let’s consider what this passage has to say about Jesus, our "Mighty God." (Read Colossians 1:15-20)
1. He is the creator & sustainer of all things - Colossians 1:16-17
John was in agreement when he wrote, "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made," - John 1:3.
The writer of Hebrews also testifies to Christ being the creator of all things when he says, "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word," (Hebrews 1:1-3).
This truth was revealed during Christ’s ministry by the miracles He performed. Consider what we are told about the creation of the universe:
A. Creation was supernatural - Genesis 1:3; 6; 9; 11; 14; 20; 24; 26
The phrase "and God said" tells us that the universe came about by means of intelligent design and that the designer was God!
It truly takes more faith to believe that everything in our universe simply happened by chance, rather than by design! To say that this ordered universe came into existence by accident is akin to saying that a Timex came into existence as a result of the explosion of a watch factory. Indeed, as one looks around at the testimony of creation, they find affirmation after affirmation of the Bible’s contention that all things came about by the design and at the direction of God Almighty.
He was just a little lad, and on the week’s first day,
Was wandering home from Sunday School, and dawdling on the way. He scuffed his shoes into the grass; he found a caterpillarHe found a fluffy milkweed pod, and blew out all the filler. A bird’s nest in a tree over head so wisely placed and high Was just another wonder that caught his eager eye. A neighbor watched his zig zag course, and hailed him from the lawn He asked him where he’d been that day, and what was going on. "Oh, I have been to Sunday School," He said as he turned the sod, And found a snail beneath it, "I’ve been learning about God" "Surely there are better ways," the neighbor said, "for a boy to spend his time. If you’ll tell just where God is I’ll give you a brand new dime." Quick as a flash his answer came! Nor were his accents faint -"I’ll give you a dollar mister, if you tell me where He ain’t."
All of creation points to the logical conclusion that there is an intelligent designer behind it all, and the Bible identifies that intelligent designer as God! Creation was supernatural!
B. Creation was sudden - Genesis 1:3; 6; 9; 11; 14; 20; 24; 26
The Bible says that the instant God spoke, things came into existence.
C. Creation had a superficial appearance of age -
Adam & Eve were created as full-grown human beings, not babies. The oak tree was created as a full-grown tree, not an acorn. The chicken really did come before the egg! Adam and Eve had the appearance of being adults, even though they were seconds old. The oak tree had the appearance of being 100 years old, mountains had the appearance of being 1000’s of years old - everything had the artificial appearance of age!
Now with these things in mind, let’s look at how the miracles of Jesus point to His being the God of creation (John 2:1-11). Note how this miracle points to Jesus as the mighty God of creation:
A. This miracle was supernatural - verse 5
It was by the design and at the direction of Jesus that this miracle occurred. It happened according to His Word!
B. This miracle was sudden -
In this miracle, Jesus by passed the planting of the seed, the cultivating of the soil, the tending of the vine, the harvesting of the grapes, the stomping of the grapes, and the fermenting of the wine. The water was instantly transformed into wine, at His Word.
C. The miracle resulted in wine that had an artificial appearance of age - verse 10
Even a good tee totaling Baptist knows that the best wine is the oldest wine! As far as the master of the banquet knew, the wine that had been served had been aging for several years!
Note what John says in verse 11. He tells us that through this miracle Jesus revealed His glory. In John 1:14, we are told, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
John joins with the rest of the writers of the New Testament in claiming that Jesus is the unique person of the universe because when He walked upon this earth, not only did He do so as a man, but as God Almighty!
This is what Paul is saying in verse 15, when he says that Christ is "the image of the invisible God." The word translated "image" (eikori) expresses two ideas: likeness, as in the image on a coin or the reflection in a mirror; and manifestation, with the sense that God is fully revealed in Jesus. Paul makes the point that God is invisible, which does not merely mean that He cannot be seen by our physical eye, but that He is unknowable. But in the person of Christ the unknowable almighty God becomes known. The creator has been fully revealed to those He created.
We don’t do so well with the intangible, those things that we can’t see, taste, touch, or hear. So almighty God is His infinite wisdom has made Himself known to us through Jesus so that we can tangibly come to know His deep love, compassion, and power for each of us.
Jesus is the creator and the sustainer of all things (verse 17)! This means that things will continue as along as he says (2 Peter 3:3-9). Peter deals with those who scoff at the idea of a coming judgment. He tells them that by the same Word whereby He created the heavens and the earth, Jesus Christ is preserving the present state of things until the day when He will execute judgment upon all who have rejected Him as He destroys the present system of evil that exists. Why does He tarry? He presently chooses to withhold judgment in order to give everyone a chance to repent, that’s why! Each of us needs to "turn around" and place our faith in Jesus Christ, the mighty God - the creator and sustainer of the universe.
A man was watching the news one night when it was reported that a car was going the wrong direction on the freeway. The man knew his wife was on that freeway and became very concerned so he called her on her cell phone. She answered and he said, "Dear, there’s one car going in the wrong direction on the freeway." She exclaimed, "One car! There’s hundreds of them!"
Like the lady in that story, you may think that everyone’s going the wrong way except you. But God is seeking through the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, to make Himself known to you, calling you to turn around and trust in Him. Because not only is He the creator and sustainer of all things, but:
2. He is the redeemer & restorer of all things -
Colossians 1:15; 18-20
Paul speaks of Christ’s work of redemption in verses 19-20. This was the initial purpose in our Lord’s coming - to live a perfect life making Himself known to a sinful world, then to end His life by offering Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. This He did through His death on the cross. He performed the work of redemption so that He might reconcile us, as well as the rest of creation to Himself.
An interesting phrase that Paul uses with respect to Christ here is "the firstborn over all creation." Some interpret this to mean that Jesus is somehow less than divine, that He is a mere created being, simply having been created before everything else.
But Paul’s meaning is given to us clearly in verse 18. Paul is referring here to our Lord’s resurrection. You see, Jesus Christ, God almighty, took on human form in order to pay for the sins of the world. In doing so, He suffered death for you and me. Three days later, however, He was raised from the dead, having a glorified, resurrection body. He has ascended to heaven, and sent forth His Spirit to inhabit the life of every person who will repent, accept His sacrifice for their sins, and give themselves to Him.
When I do this, become a "new creation " (2 Corinthians 5:17) in Christ. God begins "a good work in me that He will carry on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). And when that day arrives, I will receive a glorious resurrection body like my Lord, for as John tells us, "Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, and we can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is," (1 John 3:2).
This is what Paul was referring to in Romans 8:29, where he said that God predestined us, "to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
You see, Christ has redeemed us so that He might restore us to the quality of life that man knew before sin ever entered into the world. Not only that, but He will also restore all of creation to its former glory (2 Peter 3:11-13). You see, Christ will restore everything that Satan, and a sinful mankind have ruined, because He is a mighty God!
"He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever. And the one sitting on the throne said, ’Look, I am making all things new!’ And then he said to me, ’Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’ And he also said, ’It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give the springs of the water of life without charge! All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.’" ~ Revelation 21:4-7
How amazed we are to think that the mighty God - the creator and sustainer of the universe would leave His throne in glory to come to earth as a man in the person of Jesus Christ, in order to redeem and restore us, along with all of creation, to a position of sinlessness, and blessedness!
Conclusion: "He is the King of kings, the radiance of His glory, the Lord of the space less, fabulous, infinite universe, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, unspeakably holy, dwelling in light, unapproachable, changeless...and yet He condescended to become enclosed in lowly human flesh, to be born a despised Judean, in a filthy stable, in the womb of a simple Israeli woman and without fanfare or pomp. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. The loftiest and most exalted became the embodiment of humility and simplicity. The richest became the poorest that the poor might become rich. He came out of dry ground to become a fruitful vine. He feasted with publicans and sinners that they might not starve in their sin. He starved for 40 days in the wilderness that we might feast on the impeccable Bread of Life.
He taught us to love our enemies, to do good to those who treat us badly. He emptied Himself that we might be filled. Mighty conquerors with vast armies and terrible weapons have sought in vain to subdue the world ~ He conquered a vast kingdom with simple weapons of agape. The Lion became the Lamb that sheep might become shepherds. His heart was broken that He might bind up the broken-hearted. His body was crushed that we might be made whole. We come into the world to live; He came to die. The purest One was called illegitimate, blasphemer, winebibber, glutton and imposter by guilty sinners. The Lord of lords became a lowly servant to serve the pitiful needs of mankind.
The Man of Sorrows acquainted with the depths of grief became the joy of the world. He was rejected that we might be accepted. He was bruised that we may be healed. He was condemned that we might be justified.
He was judged that we would not be judged. He was deserted for a time by the Father that we might find access to the Father. He died as the innocent One that the guilty might be declared innocent. By grasping life we die; through death we find life. Glory to the Lamb, the Paradox of God." (Dr. Anthony Fortosis, quoted in Prokope, November/December, 1992, Page 4)
