For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
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.
Colossians 1:19-20
Well ladies, it seems Paul was not content to leave the preeminence of Christ alone. He wanted the folks in Colosse, and us, to catch the complete essence of divinity embodied in the man Jesus. The Greek word for fullness, pleroma, portrays the idea that the “full fullness of the Father filled the Son”. The divine nature of God did not exit the body of Jesus when He was born.
And what’s more, it gave God great pleasure to have all His fullness dwell in Christ while He dwelt on the earth: For God was pleased!
I also get the sense that a part of that pleasure carried over into the final words of this beautiful hymn. It pleased God the Father that the time was right for His plan to be put in place to reconcile to himself all things. Only divinity could heal the rift between man and God, only one fully human with all the fullness of God in Him. Only Jesus!
And so God made it happen, but it wasn’t a pretty thing. Blood had to be shed. Death on a cross was an agonizing ordeal. As Jesus prayed in Gethsemane: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). He did sweat blood for you and for me (Luke 22:44); yet, God’s will prevailed. Peace with God was made, for all time, for those who believe.
Think about it ladies: Christ, the exact image of the invisible God, preexistent, creator, supreme, fully divine, “brought (God) glory on earth by completing the work (God) gave (Him) to do” (John 17:4). Tuck Colossians 1:15-20 into the deep recesses of your mind where it will be a constant reminder of the supremacy of Christ. And give glory to God as you were intended to do.
Soli Deo Gloria! Amen.
Nancy P
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