Today, our reading is 1: 15 - 23.
If you can, read verses 15 - 20 out loud, as if you were reading the lyrics of your favorite hymn! These verses are written in a rhythm and poetic style of a hymn. Also, if you are keeping a notebook, begin your listing of the descriptors of Jesus. These verses are packed! I listed 12. You may find more or fewer depending on how you list the phrases. Anyway you divide them ... these are remarkable verses ... and will lead you to worship. Spend some time telling the Lord how amazing He is ... then come back.
I also started listing some things in my "The Life of a Disciple" section. Today, I wrote "continue in the faith" from 1:23. That provides subject for prayer, does it not? Reflect on what that means for you. How do you do that with consistency and perseverence, with steadfastness and purpose?
A little information about the Gnostics of Paul's day will help us understand some of his language. Very briefly (this summation is from William Barclay in his "Daily Study Bible on Colossians")
1. Gnostics were quite dissatisfied with the rude simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus. They contended that special knowledge and elaborate passwords were necessary to move toward God. Interestly, the gnostics were the ones who held the special knowledge and passwords! Man's task was to find his way to God.
2. All matter was evil ... all spirit was good. Creation had happened out of matter. Therefore, creation was not good. And the creating God was not the true God but a manifestation that was so far separated from the true God that the creating God was not good.
3. Jesus Christ was by no means unique. He was merely one of the intermediaries between God and man. Those who believed Him to be divine did not believe that he carried a real, flesh and blood, body. In their writings it says that "when Jesus walked, He left no footprints on the ground, because He had no real body of flesh and blood to leave such footprints".
Our purpose today is not to fully explore and understand the Gnostic philosophy and beliefs. We want to hear Paul ... and we want to apply to us. Do any of these philosophies and beliefs have a hearing in our world and culture? Many in our day think Jesus to be a fine man - perhaps one of the finest that has ever lived. He was a great spiritual guide and teacher. And they stop there. Many in our day think that it is up to man to find his way to God. We can do it if we try hard enough, know the right formulas, the right systems. Many believe creation to be a result of a series of random "accidents". Yes - these "gnostic" philosophies are well known to us today - even though we may use different names - which makes Paul's writings to these believers incredibly relevant!
As you read these verses again, notice how Paul confronts all of these thoughts. Paul presents the absolute supremacy of Jesus with carefully scripted phrases about Him. Go back to your list of descriptors that you compiled earlier from these verses ... and notice how they address the different claims of the gnostic philosophers. Close your day's study with worship ... this Jesus ... this "fullness of God" ... this image of the invisible ...
"Open our eyes Lord ... we want to see Jesus ..."
Paul convinces me that Jesus is indeed supreme in verses 1-20. In verses 22-23 Paul says that Jesus will present me to God as holy if I continue in faith and hope -- I must do my part.
ReplyDeleteWere the Gnostics infiltrating the Colossian church? We do have many today who follow the Gnostic ideas whether they know it or not.
I also want to see Jesus with open eyes.
Someone (who?) once remarked that the Bible is less a story of man's search for God than it is of God's search for man. I love that distinction!
ReplyDeleteChanging the subject: if Jesus couldn't leave footprints on the ground, one wonders how He wrote on it in John 8?