Colossians 1:15-23

            {Prayer}

            “Who’s on first?” Three simple words were put together and made famous in the 1930’s by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. “Who’s on first?” … it’s confusing. Is it a question? “Which person is playing first base?” Or is it an answer? “The name of the first basemen is ‘Who’.”

            “Who’s on first?” These three simple words were also confusing Christians in the first century church of Colossae. This is why Paul wrote this letter to them. Remember from last week, Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he heard about the false teachers in Colossae. Paul was told that false teachers weren’t denying Christ … they were dethroning Him. They weren’t denying that Christ is a way … they were denying that He is the way. Or, to get to the heart of the issue, the false teachers weren’t denying Christ a place, they were denying Christ first place.

            So Paul writes our text to clear up the confusion. He clears it up for the Colossians and for us. Christ is in first place.

            We need to learn it. Paul says, “He {Jesus} is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 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. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:15-17). The word “all” is used five times in those three verses. It’s used a total of eight times in verses 15 to 22. All means total. Complete, Entire. Everything. The whole hog. The whole enchilada. The whole ball of wax.

            Paul says that Christ is over all creation. Two times in these verses Paul says that Jesus created all things. Paul also contends that Jesus existed before all things and in Christ all things hold together. These terms announce that Jesus can only be one person … He’s God. In the Nicene Creed we confess that Jesus is “Very God of very God. Begotten, not made. Being of one substance with the Father.”

            So if Jesus is God and Jesus is before all things, then why does Paul say that Jesus is the firstborn over all creation? That almost sounds like Jesus was the first thing that God created. That can’t be right. And it isn’t right. You see, in the Bible, the firstborn son enjoys the highest status in the family. And once his father died, the firstborn son became the ruler in the family. That’s who Jesus is. Jesus has the highest status in the universe and He rules over all things.

            In line with this, Paul goes on to say that “Jesus is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn among the dead … for God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him” (Col 1:18a-19). There’s those terms “all” and “firstborn” again. Christ is the firstborn from among the dead. But wait! What about the child Elisha raised from the dead? Or what about Jairus’ daughter or the widow of Nain’s son or Lazarus who Jesus raised from the dead? Aren’t there a number of people in the Bible who were raised from the dead before Jesus?

            Yes, there was … but here’s the thing … their body was only temporarily raised as each of them would die again. Jesus on the other hand, He rose from the dead in an immortal body, never to die again. Paul says in Romans 6(:9) “Death no longer has dominion over him”. Christ has the highest status and is ruler of the new creation called the Church.

            Christ is in first place. We learn it and we love it. Paul says, “And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or thing in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Col 1:20). There’s that word “all” again. Christ has reconciled all things. Total. Complete. Entire. Everything. The whole hog. The whole enchilada. The whole ball of wax. And that includes you!

            The implications of this verse in the context of this section are amazing! Christ, as God, made the tree from which His cross was carved from. Christ, as God, made the minerals from which His nails were forged. Christ, as God, made the woman whose son was Judas Iscariot who would betray Jesus. And as God, Jesus set in motion the political events that sent Pontius Pilate to Judea, Herod to Jerusalem, and Caiaphas to serve as the high priest.

            God, on a cross? A split-lipped, puffy-eyed, blood-caked God on a cross? A sponge thrust into God’s face? Dice tossed at God’s feet? God bled for us? God took nails for us? God was pierced with a spear for us? Yes. Yes, and Yes. And God did it all for you!

            One of my professors told the story of when he was running late for his flight home. He was running late because even though it was April, it was snowing like crazy in Minneapolis. He ran through the airport and up to his gate only to find out that his flight was canceled. The attendant told him to try catching the final flight of the night for St. Louis. After standing in line a while, he finally got to the ticket counter. He asked if there any seats left. She looked at her computer and said, “No, I’m afraid …” Now you can imagine the different things running through his head. “I’m afraid you’ll have to spend the night in the airport.” “I’m afraid you’ll need to find a hotel.” “I’m afraid you’ll have to catch the 6:00 am flight tomorrow morning.” “I’m afraid you’re stuck.”

            But she didn’t say any of those things. Instead she looked at him and said, “I’m afraid that there are no more seats in coach. We’re going to have to bump you up to first class. Do you mind if we do that?” Imagine that was you. What would you say? “No thanks, I think I’ll pass.” I don’t think so.

            Here’s the thing … you have a first class seat right here. Right here in this church. And where is it? It’s right here at the communion rail where you receive Jesus. “God has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Col. 1:22). Here at this rail you receive the real presence of Christ. In, with, and under the bread and wine, Christ’s physical body and blood are present to present you holy, without blemish, and free from accusation.

            Did my professor have to pay first class rate for his seat? Nope. Did he deserve that first class seat? Nope. Did he enjoy it when he was handed the ticket and when he sat in that seat? Oh yeah! And the same is true for you. You don’t have to pay for this seat. You have it and can enjoy it because of what Jesus has done for you.

            Christ is in first place. We learn it, we love it, and we live it. Paul says, “so that he might have first place in all things” (Col 1:18b). “So that”. What does that mean? Christ is who He is and He did what He did so that. So that Christ might have first place in all things. There’s that word again, “all”. Total. Complete. Entire. Everything. The whole hog. The whole enchilada. The whole ball of wax.

            What’s the difference between a committed and an uncommitted Christian? Between an on-fire Christian and a lukewarm Christian? Between the believer who has Jesus in the driver’s seat and the believer who keeps Jesus in the back seat? Christians making a difference in the world are learning that Christ is first place in all things.

            Let’s be honest, though. Like the false teaches in Colossae, we don’t deny Christ, but we dethrone Him. We don’t deny that Christ is a way. We deny that He is the way. Or, to get to the heart of the issue, we don’t deny Christ a place, we deny Christ first place. …

            “Who’s on first?” Bud Abbott and Lou Costello could never figure it out. How about you? “Who’s on first?” The answer is clear … Jesus. Learn it. Love it. And live it.

            Isaac Watts, the great hymn writer, put it this way. “Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life … my all!” Amen.

          The peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, now and forever. Amen.