December 07, 2022 – Wednesday
Who is Jesus
Colossians 1:15 NIV
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:15 CJB
15 He is the visible image of the invisible God. He is supreme over all creation,
Colossians 1:15 AMP
15 He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.
Comment
Christmas is coming soon where we and much of the world celebrates the birth of Jesus the Christ. Some say we should not celebrate His birthday as it is not celebrated in the Bible. But they are wrong, incredibly wrong.
If we turn to Luke 2, we find Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem to obey the decree of Caesar Augustus for a census. Then, 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and Mary gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Quick point, a manger is not a place, it is instead a feeding trough, usually made from a hollowed out limestone or made of wood.
Shepherds in the fields were watching over their flocks at this time and an angel of the Lord appeared to them. The shepherds were terrified. Then we read, 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Next, we read about the first celebration of Jesus’ birth, 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” This was the greatest celebration of His birth to ever occur. Nothing in our celebrations of His birth comes close. Nor do most of our celebrations acknowledge who He truly is.
The shepherds were told he is a Savior and the Messiah, the Lord, but he was much more than that. How much more is given by our verse for today, Colossians 1:15 where we read, The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation NIV or He is the visible image of the invisible God. He is supreme over all creation CJB (Complete Jewish Bible). Some read this and think Jesus was a creation, but the AMP (Amplified) version of this verse clears that up with, He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation. Simply stated, He is our creator, the originator of all creation. The following verse also makes this clear, 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
We celebrate His birth in the form of a man. Philippians 2:5-9 tells us we are to have the humility of Jesus when it says, 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Bottom Line: We celebrate the birth of our Creator who came to us in the form of a man with the purpose of dying on a cross for our sins. That’s whose birth we celebrate.
Prayer: Almighty God, Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit – Thank You for the wonderful gift of Jesus in human form to show us how to live and what true humility and love is. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek