Jesus Is Central in Creation

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
—Colossians 1:15

In Colossians 1:15, Paul says that Jesus Christ is central in creation. If you ever doubt the sufficiency of Christ to take care of your needs, remember His role in creation. Now, a lot of Christians think the first time Jesus Christ ever began to exist was at Bethlehem. This is important for us to remember at Christmastime—Jesus didn’t begin to exist when He was born and placed in a manger on Christmas Day. No. Jesus is eternally coexistent with God the Father. Jesus existed before the creation.

Paul says, “He is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). That word “image” means “manifestation.” No man has ever seen God, because God is a spirit and you can’t see a spirit. But in John 14:9, Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” If you want to know what God is like, all you have to do is look at Jesus Christ.

Not only that, but notice Jesus is the firstborn of all creation. Now, it’s important to understand what the word firstborn means. Some people, like Jehovah’s Witnesses, point to this verse and say, “Look here. It says Jesus Christ was born. He came into existence at Bethlehem.” But the word “firstborn” in this verse doesn’t mean first chronologically. It means first in importance. Now, let me prove that to you. In Psalm 89:27, God is talking about His coming Son, the Messiah. And He says of the Messiah, “I also shall make Him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.” This doesn’t refer to His place chronologically, but His place in rank. Jesus is the firstborn, the highest of all creation.

Notice also that Jesus was the cause of the creation. Look at Colossians 1:16. “For by Him”—talking about Jesus—“all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

Now, when we think about creation, we tend to think of God the Father doing all the heavy lifting, don’t we? That’s not what Paul says. Jesus Christ is the One who created this vast universe.

Notice Paul says Jesus not only created everything that is visible, but He created everything that is invisible—thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. That is a reference to the spirit realm—angels and demons. Some in Colossae were trying to worship angels. And Paul said that’s ridiculous.

Why would you worship angels when Jesus is the One who created all of the angels? Jesus Christ was the cause of creation. No wonder disease fled from Him. No wonder the winds and the waves obeyed Jesus. He is the One who created it all. That’s how we know Jesus Christ is sufficient.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Jesus Christ: Creator, Originator, and Reconciler” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2011.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.