There’s been a lot of talk lately over who will take control of Afghanistan once the Taliban has been driven out. Some feel that it would be best if the 87-year-old exiled king returned to the throne. Others want a power sharing government made up of the members of the Northern Alliance. Still others want the U.N. to come up with a government that will guarantee peace for all peoples of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan of course is not the only country that has had a difficult time figuring out who is in charge. Not too long ago the United States went through that struggle as it scrambled to decide who had won the presidential election. Closer to home, the Alliance party has wrestled with whether or not Stockwell Day should remain its leader.
With so much uncertainty in the world over who is in charge, this morning’s sermon text is a treat. As we celebrate Christ the King Sunday our text assures us that Christ Reigns as King Supreme 1) over all creation, and 2) for all creation.
Our text is taken from Paul’s letter to the Christians in Colosse, a city in present day Turkey. Although Paul had never met these believers before, he wrote this letter as a favour to their pastor, Epaphras. It seems that Epaphras brought news to Paul that false teachers were threatening to lead his members astray. They were telling the Colossian Christians that believing in Jesus wasn’t enough for salvation. They claimed that it was also necessary to keep part of Old Testament Ceremonial law like resting on the Sabbath. These false teachers also detracted from the honour Christ deserved by urging the Colossians to worship angels.
To combat these heresies Paul made sure that the Colossians understood why Christ was all they needed for salvation. He wrote, “He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:15-17).
Jesus deserves our honour and praise because he not only created all things; he sustains them as well. In other words, without Jesus this world would not exist, nor could it continue to exist. Since only God has that kind of power, from these words we learn that Jesus is God. The Apostle John teaches us the same thing in the first chapter of his gospel where he calls Jesus the Word. John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:1, 3).
Now that we’ve been reminded that Jesus is God we can go back to the first few verses of our text and correctly understand what Paul meant when he said, “[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Col. 1:15). By saying that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, Paul was not implying that Jesus is a copy or a picture of God, but not the real thing. Although the Greek word translated as image has that meaning that’s not what Paul meant here. After all how can you have a picture of a God who is invisible? Therefore a better translation for the word image is revelation. Jesus is the revelation of the invisible God. That interpretation is backed by the Apostle John who wrote, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
But now what does it mean that Jesus is the firstborn over all creation (Col. 1:15)? Is Jesus, God’s Son, the first thing that the Father created? It can’t be because Paul just told us that everything in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible was created by Jesus. So what does it mean that Jesus is the firstborn over all creation? When we celebrate Christmas in a few weeks, we will be reminded that some 2,000 years ago the Son of God, who has no beginning or end, began his life as a man here on earth. Therefore by calling Jesus the firstborn over all creation Paul was simply reminding the Colossians that while Jesus was 100% God, he was also 100% human. He is the God-Man who reigns as King Supreme over all creation.
So Jesus is the God-Man who reigns as King Supreme. So what? Well for the Colossian Christians this meant that it was foolish for them to worship angels. After all, Jesus had created them and was much more powerful than they. Angels in fact worship Jesus and get upset when people try to worship them. John found that out when he bowed down to one on the island of Patmos. John records, “Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” 10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!” (Rev. 19:9, 10a)
While I don’t personally know of anyone who worships angels, it seems to me that the reminder to worship no one other than God is quite timely. With the debut of the Harry Potter movie and television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the temptation exists for us to look for power and control apart from God. We need to be aware that the Devil can use such shows to get us interested in dabbling with black magic just to see what will happen. He’s happy if he can even get us to check our horoscope every now and then. While we may not think that we are worshipping angels, namely the evil ones, by doing this, any time we look to someone or something other than Christ for control and stability in our life, we have failed to acknowledge him as the king who reigns supreme over all creation. Don’t fall into that trap because there is no one more powerful, and more deserving of our devotion than the God-Man, Jesus.
The great thing about Jesus is that he doesn’t just reign over all creation; he reigns for it. That makes a big difference doesn’t it? Just because someone has power doesn’t mean that he will use it for the benefit of others. Listen to what Paul says Jesus does with his power. “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. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Col. 1:18-20).
Jesus used his power to save us from sin, death, and the Devil but he didn’t do it in a way many expected him to. Instead of storming into the world, guns a blazing like a cowboy ready to bust his compadres out of a jailhouse, the Son of God quietly slipped in to the world and exchanged places with us on death row. That explains why he had to become human. He had to be able to take our place and suffer and die for our sins. As true God he was unable to die. At the same time he needed to remain God so that his death could count for everyone. If that’s a difficult concept to understand just think of how an army general might surrender himself so that the men in under his command might be allowed to go free.
While Jesus has completed winning our salvation his work as king continues. As king he reigns supreme for the benefit of the Church. We know that because Paul says that the Church is Christ’s body. Just as we are careful to take care of our body so Christ will carefully watch over his. Although it may not seem like it, he is guiding world events so that they will work for the favour of all of God’s elect.
Have you acknowledged that Jesus reigns as king supreme? Perhaps you have in words but what about actions? How did you react to the news of 9/11? Were you shaken to the core like I was about what happened? Do you toss and turn at night when you worry about what kind of world your children will have to grow up in, or whether or not you will find the kind of job you want? Do you get worried when you hear scientists say that it won’t be long before our world runs out of resources? If so can you say that you have acknowledged that Christ reigns as king supreme? Have you shown trust in Paul’s teaching that through Jesus the world was made and continues to hold together? Worrying is a sin against the first commandment because it’s a failure to trust that our king can or will take care of us. If you have fallen into that sin, repent and trust that the same king has forgiven you.
When you are tempted to think that world events are out of control remember this story. A father wanted to read the paper, but was being distracted by his little daughter who was playing in the same room. In order to get some peace and quiet he tore a sheet out of a magazine on which was printed the map of the world. Tearing it into small pieces, he gave it to his daughter and said, "Go into the other room and see if you can put this together." After a few minutes, his daughter returned and handed him the map correctly fitted together. The father was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly. "Oh," she said, "on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got Jesus in his place, then the world came out all right.”
Just what will happen in Afghanistan remains to be seen but there is no doubt that the supreme king, Jesus remains in charge. He will properly deal with those who have dared to mock his rule, while providing for the oppressed. Jesus doesn’t just do that for other people, however, he reigns as king supreme for us as well. Therefore rejoice because Jesus our brother and Saviour, is also our Creator and Sustainer. He alone reigns as king supreme. Amen.
