Colossians Devotional | Where Do You Get Your Jesus?
Colossians: Christ Above and Before All
The Glory of God Revealed in Jesus
Where Do You Get Your Jesus?
“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." - (Colossians 1:15-20)
Where do you get your Jesus?
Everyone’s got an opinion on Jesus. Whether it’s the comedic view of the fictional Ricky Bobby who prefers the “six pound, eight ounce baby Jesus, wrapped in golden, swaddling fleece,” or the more serious (and egregious) views of Madonna--who thinks Jesus is the kind of man who would approve of abortion. Comedian and actor Ricky Gervais thinks Jesus wasn’t God, but still...a wise man with “teachings that, if followed, would make the world a better place.” Puzzlingly, former pastor and now motivational speaker, Rob Bell, doesn’t have much to say about Christ, except that he probably doesn’t like Christianity.
The most important question you’ll ever answer in your entire life is the one these people are answering: Who do you say Jesus is? Your answer will drive the way you live the rest of your life and where you’ll spend the next.
And that’s why I think we need to ask ourselves the question: where do I get my Jesus from?
Essentially, the only source of information and knowledge we have about Jesus comes from the Bible. Only a few ancient historians mention Jesus--and that, just in passing. If I’m going to have a realistic and reasonable view on who Abraham Lincoln was and what he stood for, I’m going to have to go to the primary sources--newspaper articles, his speeches, his letters--all contemporary with his times. If want to have a reliable answer as to who Jesus is, then the only thing I have is the Bible.
So, what does the Bible say about Jesus?
The Apostle Paul, who was alive in Judea during Jesus’ life and ministry--and who claimed to have met the risen Jesus on a road to Damascus--says this: “he is the image of the invisible God; the firstborn of all creation.” He created all things and all things belong to him. As God, he keeps the universe held together. He is before all things--eternally pre-existent--and, therefore, more important than anyone and anything else. “All the fullness of God was pleased to dwell in him.” He is the one...the only one...who makes peace between God and man, and he did it by the blood of his cross.
To land anywhere outside of these statements means you’re going to have to have developed your views of Jesus from outside the Bible. And there’s nothing outside of the Bible that can rightfully tell us the truth about Jesus. Where does that land us? In fancy, in fantasy...in misguided make-believe.
Think for a while today--don’t answer too quickly--who is Jesus? What did he stand for? What would he say about your life? Why might that matter?
How did you come to believe those things? Where do you get your facts and opinions about Jesus?
Pray and ask the Lord to show himself--truly--to you from his Word, the Bible.