by Larry Curl

Background:

In response to the discouraging things we see happening in the world around us one of the best courses of action we can take is to focus on the Magnificence of Christ and help others to do the same. Because In Him we will find the only hope for real change.

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The Magnificence of Christ as the Image of God, as Creator of All, as Sustainer of All, as Head of the Church and in Reconciliation:

Definition of magnificent (from Merriam Webster):

1: Great in deed or exalted in place

2: Impressive to the mind or spirit

3: Exceptionally fine

Colossians 1:15-20

^“15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ 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.”

His Magnificence as the Image of God:

^“15 “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

The invisible God, God the Father, is the most magnificent being that exists! He is Lord over all and perfect in all His ways. And according to Colossians 1:15 Jesus is the image of His Father. Hebrews 1:3 adds that Jesus is the “exact” image (representation) of His Father.

Hebrews 1:3 “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word…”

But…since God the Father is invisible, how can Jesus be an “image” of Him? It seems that the word image, as used in Colossians 1:15, must not be referring to a visual replication of God’s physical likeness. Being the “Image of the Invisible God” must mean something else.

Going back to the Hebrews 1:3verse, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word…”

In the original language the phrase “exact representation of his being” would be something like “revelation of the character of his person”.

John Calvin’s commentary on Colossians 1:15 aligns with this language “The sum is this — that God in himself, that is, in his naked majesty, is invisible, and that not to the eyes of the body merely, but also to the understandings of men, and that he is revealed to us in Christ alone, that we may behold him as in a mirror. For in Christ, he shows us his righteousness, goodness, wisdom, power, in short, his entire self. We must, therefore, beware of seeking him elsewhere, for everything that would set itself off as a representation of God, apart from Christ, will be an idol.”

So, when Paul says in Colossians that Jesus is “… the image of the invisible God” he is trying to convey that Jesus is the revelation of God the Father’s character. What He is like, what is important to Him, how he acts.

Matthew Henry’s commentary adds this about Colossians 1:15 “Christ in his human nature, is the visible discovery of the invisible God, and he that hath seen Him hath seen the Father. Let us adore these mysteries in humble faith, and behold the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus.”

His Magnificence in Creation:

Colossians 1:15-16 “…. the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”

This passage also makes it clear that Jesus is much more than an exalted human being. No human has the power to create something from nothing as Jesus did. And the Gospel of John reinforces that Jesus (the Word) was there at the beginning, with God the Father, making all things, speaking the universe into existence (Genesis 1, and God said “Let there be light”)

John 1:1-3” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

Hebrews 11:3 in the ESV, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

The power that Jesus displayed in creating every single thing that exists is beyond our ability to comprehend! It should truly lead us to worship Him!

At the end of verse 15 it declares “all things were created through him and for him. “

John Piper made these comments about this passage:

“All that came into being exists for Christ — that is, it exists to display the greatness of Christ. Nothing — nothing! — in the universe exists for its own sake. Everything from the bottom of the oceans to the top of the mountains, from the smallest particle to the biggest star, from the most boring school subject to the most fascinating science, from the ugliest cockroach to the most beautiful human, from the greatest saint to the most wicked genocidal dictator — everything that exists, exists to make the greatness of Christ more fully known — including you, and the person you have the hardest time liking.”

This concept, that not only was everything created by Christ, but everything exists for Christ, just adds to his magnificence!

The Magnificence of Christ in His Preeminence, as Sustainer of All, as Head of the Church and in Reconciliation:

Colossians 1:17 “He is before all things and in him all things hold together.”

He is before all things…

Jesus is first or preeminent over all others. He is first in authority, first in power, first or preeminent in everything!

“God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11).

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him “(Matthew 28:18).

“The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand” (John 3:35).

“God has put all things in subjection” to him (1 Corinthians 15:27) — “angels, authorities and powers in submission to him” (1 Peter 3:22).

Not only is Christ “before all things”, “…in Him all things hold together.”

All things continue to exist only because He holds them together by his power!

“He upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3)

Absolutely everything is totally reliant on Christ. If He didn’t actively sustain the universe by His power it would cease to exist.

Also, John Piper says this about Colossians 1:17….

‘Not only is his involvement in creation exhaustive, but also in every moment of every day. He doesn’t make the watch and walk away. He holds the world, all history, and our lives in his hands, and actively keeps them ticking by the millisecond.”

No mere human, no matter how intelligent or powerful, comes even remotely close to being able to do the things being described here that Jesus does.

His Magnificence as Head of the Body (the Church)

Colossians 1:18

I came across some commentary from David Mathis on this verse that I think is worded well and most importantly Biblically sound. David Mathis is executive editor for desiringGod.org that John Piper founded and he is also a pastor at Cities Church.

“As impressive as it is for Christ to be Lord of all that exists in such utterly exhaustive and unrestricted terms, it is even more impressive that he is Lord of all in the world to come. He is firstborn, preeminent, not only in the first creation (verse 15), but also in the ultimate creation (verse 18), the new heavens and new earth, as head of the body of the redeemed people for which the new world is designed. The first world was designed for his entrance. The new world is designed for his endless reign as supreme over all and head of this body called the church.

As great a glory as it is for Christ to be the very image of God in whom, through whom, and for whom all things exist, his role in relation to the church is even more significant.  “As Paul says in his companion letter, Ephesians, it is “through the church [that] the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 3:10).

And the church is the people among whom God’s glory and praise reach their pinnacle. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever” (Ephesians 3:20–21).”

I questioned at first whether it would be accurate to say that Jesus’ role as head of the church was “even more significant” than his role in the first creation. However, when Mr. Mathis refers to (Ephesians 3:10) “through the church [that] the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” I can see that when the church came into being Gods’ glory was now made known to an even greater audience. So, in that sense Jesus’ role in relation to the church could be thought of as more significant because God’s glory is now reaching further than ever before through the church.

His Magnificence in Reconciliation

Colossians 1:19-20

19“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 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.”

Now we begin to see Jesus as the Lamb sacrificed on the cross to reconcile to Himself all things. In this role we see an even greater picture of his magnificence. The previous verses we looked at in Colossians 1:15-20 proclaimed the amazing power and authority of Christ as the image of God and in His role as Creator of all things. But, at the cross where Jesus became our Savior and reconciled us and all things to Himself, we see His submissiveness, His meekness as the Lamb of God. We begin to see a deeper picture of our Lord Jesus.

I really like how John Piper describes this deeper picture of Christ.

    “A lion is admirable for its ferocious strength and imperial appearance. A lamb is admirable for its meekness and servant-like provision of wool for our clothing. But even more admirable is a lionlike lamb and a lamblike lion. What makes Christ glorious, as Jonathan Edwards observed over 250 years ago, is “an admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies.”

    For example, we admire Christ for his transcendence, but even more because the transcendence of his greatness is mixed with submission to God. We marvel at him because his uncompromising justice is tempered with mercy. His majesty is sweetened by meekness. In his equality with God, he has a deep reverence for God. Though he is worthy of all good, he was patient to suffer evil. His sovereign dominion over the world was clothed with a spirit of obedience and submission. He baffled the proud scribes with his wisdom, but was simple enough to be loved by children. He could still the storm with a word, but would not strike the Samaritans with lightning or take himself down from the cross.

    The glory of Christ is not a simple thing. It is a coming together in one person of extremely diverse qualities. “

And these diverse qualities were demonstrated by Christ in a magnificent way that was never seen before!!

Now we will dig deeper into the magnificence of Christ in his role as the one who reconciled all things to himself through his blood, shed on the cross.

The following is from Anthony Carter, lead pastor of East Point Church in Georgia.

“When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, they not only rebelled against God; they also betrayed his goodness and denounced his rule. It was the ultimate act of treason. Adam and Eve turned God into the enemy as they surrendered themselves and the world to sin. By doing so, they created an enmity between them and God, and passed that enmity to all who would come after them. The apostle Paul tells us that in Adam we all sinned (Romans 5:12), and therefore we were all made enemies of God (Romans 5:10).

Consequently, in order for anyone to be in right relationship with God, the enmity must be removed. The relationship must be reconciled. What Adam and Eve lost in the garden must be mended and restored. When the Bible speaks of reconciliation, this is the primary meaning (2 Corinthians 5:17). Salvation is God ending the enmity between himself and us through the life and death (and resurrection) of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:10).

Gospel of Reconciliation

There may not be a more illustrative set of words used to communicate the sum and substance of the gospel than reconciliation and reconcile. Reconciliation is that aspect of the gospel where the separation and enmity between God and humanity caused by sin are ended, and peace and renewed relationship are forever established, through the person and work of Jesus Christ. The message and ministry of the gospel is the message and ministry of reconciliation.

 “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19). The gospel message is about God pursuing sinners to save them from sin and unto everlasting joy through Jesus Christ. It is about God tearing down the wall of hostility that existed between him and the sons and daughters of Adam, and restoring the peace that Adam lost. This peace comes through the reconciling blood of the cross of Christ (Colossians 1:20).”

So, we see that Jesus appears even more magnificent when viewed in his awesome display of power and authority as revealed in creation, combined with his love and compassion shown through the shedding of his blood to reconcile us to himself!

The Magnificence of Christ as our Great High Priest

We will begin with a quick review of Hebrews chapter 7, verses 23 through 25.

²³ Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; ²⁴ but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. ²⁵ Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Verses 23 reaffirms that a new priesthood was needed because the old one consisted of mortal men who had to continually be replaced when they died. Their priesthood was temporary.  In contrast, verse 24 establishes that because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.

And because Jesus priesthood is permanent “…he is able to save completelythose who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Here’s what John Piper says about verse 25:

“Our Salvation Depends on the Work of Christ Forever and Ever”

“Now the second great implication of verse 25 is that our future salvation depends on the active work of Christ forever and ever, not just on the past work of Christ or on our past decisions and commitments. It says that Christ is able to save forever . . . since he always lives to make intercession for us. In other words, he would not be able to save us forever if he did not go on interceding for us forever.

This means our salvation is as secure as Christ’s priesthood is indestructible. This is why we needed a priest so much greater than any human. Christ’s deity secures his indestructible priesthood for us.

This means we should not talk about our salvation in static terms the way we often do—as if I did something once in an act of decision, and Christ did something once when he died and rose again, and that’s all there is to it. That’s not all there is to it. This very day I am being saved by the eternal intercession of Jesus in heaven. Jesus is praying for us and that is our salvation.”

The continual work of intercession that Jesus does on our behalf, as our eternal great high priest, is just more grace upon grace!

The Blood of Christ is Superior to the Blood of Animals

Hebrews 9:11-28, “11But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. ¹² He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtainingeternal redemption. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

Before the earthly priests could enter the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle, they had to first be cleansed by sprinkling themselves with the blood of goats and bulls.

But when Jesus came as high priest, he entered the “Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood…”

The blood of goats and bulls that the priests used provided an outward cleansing, but it did not take away sin. Hebrews 10:4 “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” And Hebrews 10:11 “Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again, and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins…”

But, the blood of Christ, who was the perfect lamb of God, does much more than provide an outward cleansing!

Jesus’ blood frees us from sin!

Revelation 1:5-6 ESV

“And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Jesus’ blood has made us holy!

Hebrews 10:10

“And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Jesus’ blood cleanses our consciences!

Hebrews 9:14

“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

John Piper comments on Hebrews 9:14

“So here we are in the modern age, the age of science, space travel—E-mail, heart transplants, instant replays, beepers, 911—and our problem is fundamentally the same as always: our consciences condemn us and make us feel unacceptable to God. We are alienated from God. We don’t feel good enough to come to him.

And no matter how distorted our consciences are, that much is true: we are not good enough to come to him.

We can cut ourselves, or throw our children in the sacred river, or give a million dollars to the United Way, or serve in a soup kitchen at Thanksgiving, or a hundred forms of penance and self-injury, and the result will be the same: the stain remains and death terrifies. We know that our conscience is defiled—not with external things like touching a corpse, a dirty diaper, or a piece of pork. Jesus said it is what comes out of a man that defiles, not what goes in (Mark 7:15-23). We are defiled by attitudes like pride and self-pity and bitterness and lust and envy and jealousy and covetousness and apathy and fear. Verse 14 says that these are “dead works”—that is, they have no spiritual life in them. They don’t come from new life; they come from death and they lead to death. That is why they make us feel hopeless in our consciences.

The Only Answer

The only answer in this modern age, as in every other age is the blood of Christ. When your conscience rises up and condemns you, where will you turn? Hebrew 9:14 gives you the answer: turn to Christ. Turn to the blood of Christ. Turn to the only cleansing agent in the universe that can give you relief in life and peace in death.”

That is the end of Pipers’ commentary on verse 14.

But I wanted to add, that because we can now have a clean conscience through Jesus’ blood “we may serve the living God!” (last section of verse 14).We don’t need to be held back by guilt and feelings of unworthiness. We can now serve God freely!

A Call to Persevere in Faith

Hebrews 10:19-23

^“19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. “

We find several wonderful truths in this passage of Gods’ Word:

1. By the blood of Jesus, we can enter the Most Holy Place with confidence!
2. We can approach God in a “new and living way” that was opened up for us through Jesus body!
3. We can draw near to God in “full assurance”!

This was all provided for us through our Magnificent High Priest Jesus Christ!!

With this understanding, the author of Hebrews encourages us to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess…”!

And we know we can hold on to this great hope because “…he who promised is faithful. “and he is truly Magnificent!!