Year 2, Week 47, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 47, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Acts 28; Colossians 1.

Today’s reading finishes the Book of Acts. The Book of Acts is a selective history of the early church, which demonstrates how Jesus, by the Spirit, empowers His followers to continue His work. While the Book of Acts traces the early history of the church in general, eventually, the ministry of the Apostle Paul will be the primary focus for much of the remainder of Acts. Acts 28 picks up where Acts 27 left off, as Paul is shipwrecked but safe on the island of Malta. After three months on Malta, Paul resumed his journey and arrived in Rome: “After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta…After three months we set sail in a ship…And so we came to Rome” (Acts 28:1,11a,14b). Once in Rome, Paul sought to persuade the Jews about Jesus: “When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets” (Acts 28:23). The Book of Acts ends with Paul turning to the Gentiles as they show more receptivity to Jesus: “Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (Acts 28:28-31). While the Book of Acts ends with Paul ministering the Gospel with no hindrances, there would still be much more Gospel ministry from Paul. Today’s reading also begins the Book of Colossians. The Book of Colossians, which is one of at least four letters that Paul wrote during his time in Rome, confronts false views of Jesus: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15). False views of Jesus result in false notions of Christianity.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is Paul’s portrait of the supremacy of Christ. Paul frames Christ’s supremacy as being over all of creation, but also as head of the Church. Concerning creation, Paul explains the unique supremacy of Jesus over all that He made: “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. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17). Christ is identified as the “firstborn of all creation.” Paul is not implying that Christ was the first thing that God made, for the phrase “firstborn of all creation” is to be taken figuratively signifying the exalted place this belongs to Jesus. This figurative sense concerning “firstborn of all creation” is seen in a passage from the Psalms that speaks of David, in part, but also of David’s greater Son: “And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth” (Psalm 89:27). King David was not literally a firstborn son, but he was uniquely exalted over all his brothers. Likewise, Jesus is not literally the first thing made by God, by God Himself who made all things. Jesus is the ultimate and true highest King of the earth, for all things that were created were created by Him and all that was created was created for Him. Christ’s exaltation over creation is also displayed in the fact that He holds together all that He made: “He upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:13).

Paul also sets forth Christ’s supremacy over the Church: “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” (Colossians 1:18). Christ’s supremacy is displayed through Christ’s work of creation as well as through His work of redemption. The redeeming work of Christ manifests itself in the creation of the Church, wherein Christ is rightfully declared Head of His redeemed people. As Head, Jesus controls, nourishes, and empowers the rest of the body, for He is “the beginning,” in the sense that He is the creator of a new creation in the formation of the church. In addition to being declared as Head of the church, Christ is also, “the firstborn from the dead.” This phrase, similar in function to the earlier phrase, “firstborn of all creation,” adds further support to the fact that Paul is not speaking literally, but figuratively. Jesus was not literally the first to come back from the dead, but He is the One who holds a uniquely exalted place in the reality of resurrection from death. It is Jesus’ resurrection from the dead that establishes the certainty of His people’s resurrection from the dead. The church is Jesus’ creation of a formation of resurrected creation. It is precisely Jesus’ exalted place that demands His preeminence over all of creation as well as over all of the church, His resurrected creation.

There is no one like Jesus: “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” (Colossians 1:19-20). Thus, there was nothing that Paul proclaimed other than Christ: “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” (Colossians 1:28-29). Paul proclaimed only Christ, for there was no one like Christ and there was no one that people needed other than Christ. Only Christ and the message for Christ proclaimed would bring people to full maturity.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe