There's so much more to learn about Christ in Colossians. That's why I've looked through the rest of the book and selected just a few more sections that speak of the picture of Christ that Paul paints in Colossians.
- He is the revealed mystery of God. This is really a rather fascinating thing, if I do say so myself. The first time we hear about "the mystery" is Colossians 1:25-26. Paul writes, "I have become its servant, according to God's administration that was given to me for you to make God's message fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints." When I first read this, my interest was piqued. If you know me, you know that I love mysteries! Give me a good mystery novel, and I'll be hunkered down in my bedroom all day! But the reason I love reading mystery novels and even watching mystery shows is because of the end, when the mystery is revealed. Because there's no purpose to a mystery if, in the end, the mystery does not become a mystery no longer. That's why Paul is careful to reveal this mystery to us just five verses later in Colossians 2:2-3. "I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery - Christ. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him." There you have it! Christ is the revealed mystery of God! But why is that a mystery? The ESV Student Study Bible suggests that "the mystery refers to God's unfolding plan for the world and for redemption through the Messiah." So, the mystery of how God will redeem His people was revealed with Christ's coming.
- He is victorious. "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him." (Colossians 2:15) Christ triumphed over the rulers and authorities! He triumphed over those who tried to kill Him, those who tried to conquer Him. Instead, He conquered them! The HCSB Online Study Bible offers a really cool picture of Jesus' triumph: "The word triumphed ... evokes the imagery of a triumphal procession where a victorious general would lead a parade to display the booty and prisoners of war from his conquest." Isn't that a neat thought? Jesus, the victorious, almighty general, leading a triumphant, joyful parade to display what He won through His victory!
- He is the new covenant. This is one that I hadn't spent too much time on before my dad brought it up. "Therefore, don't let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is the Messiah." (Colossians 2:16-17) You see Jesus fulfilled the old covenant, the covenant God made with the Israelites many, many years ago, spoken of in the Pentateuch. You see, all those laws and regulations they had to follow were fulfilled in Jesus. That's why we don't have to only eat certain foods and wear specific clothes and take part in special festivals. It's because Christ abolished the old covenant and became the new covenant. But why did Jesus have to get rid of the old covenant? The simple answer - because it wasn't being properly fulfilled. The sinful Israelites could not perfectly keep the covenant with God. That's why Jesus had to become the perfect sacrifice and the perfect priest and the perfect covenant-keeper. The old covenant that was not being upheld by the Israelites was taken out of the way with Jesus' sacrifice, and the new covenant was welcomed in. (Hebrews 9:15-28)
- He is authoritative. "You have been filled by Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority." (Colossians 2:10) Jesus is the ultimate authority. He is above and head over every other. Presidents, prime ministers, governors, senators, mayors - He's above them all. And nothing they do goes unnoticed by Him. His authority trumps every other.
These 11 things that Colossians says about Christ only touches the surface. I encourage you to dig deeper! But I hope that this beginning has helped set the tone for what is to come in Colossians. For Christ is truly the most important thing we could ever study in any book, but especially in Colossians.
