Jesus is Supreme From the Cosmos to the Congregation
By Michael Kelley
Antoine de Saint-Exupery was a French writer and aviator whose best-known work was the book called The Little Prince. He once wrote this: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the tasks, and give orders, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” He was pointing to the difference between tasks and vision. In building a ship, all the things Saint-Exupery mentioned must be done - you have to gather wood and divide tasks and give orders and a host of other things. But the thing that keeps those tasks going with energy and enthusiasm is not the task itself, but the grand vision behind it.
That’s true about something like building a ship, but it’s also true in the Christian life. That is, there are lots of things to be done as a Christian. Lots of growth to happen, lots of small acts of obedience, and lots of small choices to say no to sin. But behind all those tasks is the grand vision. That’s the “thing” behind all the other “things.” In fact, you could go so far as to say ultimately, what we need more than anything else is a bigger, clearer, and more steadfast vision of Jesus. That’s what we find in Colossians 1:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Col. 1:15-20).
We can divide this text into two main parts, both dealing with the supremacy of Jesus Christ. In the first section, we find the supremacy of Jesus at the universal level. In the second section, we find the supremacy of Jesus at the church. Taken together, these verses remind us that Christ is supreme from the cosmos to the congregation.
From the big to the small, from the grand to the granular, from the macro to the micro - Christ is over all. Now what might that truth mean for you today?
Well, among other things, it means that when you come to Jesus, you find One who is simultaneously majestic as He reigns and sustains everything in existence, and at the same time One who is intimately close to you. And this is a wonder. How is it that One so grand as Jesus could also be One so close as Jesus? How is it that the One who is actively sustaining the universe also cares deeply about the personal needs of your life? It is gloriously true, and this is what we have in Jesus and in Jesus alone.
You have in Jesus One who is preeminent, and yet one who is present. To be preeminent means being more important, superior, or distinguished than all others. It describes someone or something that is outstanding, renowned, or supreme, often considered the best in their area. And yet that preeminent one is closer to you than you can imagine, for He has given you His Holy Spirit which dwells inside every Christian. This is who you have in Jesus.
You have in Jesus One who is majestic, and yet one who is modest. Jesus is majestic in that He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and yet this great and majestic king chose the pathway of modesty and stooped low to wash the feet of His disciples. This is who you have in Jesus.
You have in Jesus One who is glorious, and yet one who is grounded. Jesus, the Glorious One, has been anointed and is even now at the right hand of God. And yet that same one knows what it means to be tempted in every way, just as you are. He is high above, and at the same time, infinitely down to earth. This is who you have in Jesus.
You have in Jesus one commands, and yet one who understands. He has been given all authority in heaven and on earth, and so He rightfully issues commands to us about how we are to live our lives. And yet that same One knows the pain of loss, betrayal, and disappointment. This is who you have in Jesus.
So when you come to Jesus, you can know that you are coming to the One who is over all. And yet when you come to Jesus, you can do so without fear because He died for you. Bring Him your big issues and your little ones; bring him prayers for the world and prayers for your neighbor; bring Him concerns of all types. Come to Jesus and find Him ready to receive you.
Michael Kelley is a husband, father of three, author, and speaker from Nashville, TN. His latest book is a year-long family devotional guide called The Whole Story for the Whole Family. Find his personal blog at michaelkelley.co.
