THE COSMIC CHRISTSample

The Son of God reveals and represents the true being of God. He exercises rule over the creation on his behalf – as human beings always should have done. 

Also, the Son had a particular role in the creation of all things. Paul writes that ‘in him’ and ‘through him’ and ‘for him’ all things were created. 

The first thing to notice is how comprehensive this claim is. There is nothing that is created without the Son. The earthly and the heavenly realms, the spiritual and the material – these are all created in this way and for this purpose.

In particular, Paul names ‘thrones or powers or rulers or authorities’ – which is to say, this claim means that the Son is supreme over all powers that are operative on the earth, from the beginning. Nothing operates in the creation without him – whether that be a natural or a supernatural force. Everything from the motion of the waves to the power that governs peoples emanates from the Son of God, who is pre-eminent over them all. 

And he is both the agent and the point of creation – things are created ‘through’, ‘in’ and ‘for’ him. The meaning of the entire creation of the world is consummated in the Son of God. It was ‘for’ him – we might say, a gift to him from the creator. But the movement, the flow, of the whole creation points to him. 

Our response? Awe and wonder that we know this extraordinary person in Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord of all. 

Prayer

Creator of all things, I praise you for the work of your Son in the creation of all things, and the way they find their purpose in him. Please make his rule of all things known in all the earth, to the glory of your name. Amen.