“… all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” (Col 1:16b-17, NKJ)
A last remark about Col 1:15. When Paul writes: “He is the image of the invisible God”, the word “image” here means “profile”, or “representation”, according to Strongs. Thayer says the core meaning is “to be like”, with the root word being: “to yield”! Here lies an immensely important principle in terms of our relationship with the Word of God. If Jesus is the “representation”, then it means that He could only be this because He yielded. In four important parts in the Gospel of John, the disciple reports on how Jesus yielded to God.
In John 5:19-20 it states: “Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.’” Thus: the Son yields to all that He sees His Father DO. (See also John 4:34 and 14:31.)
In John 8:28-29 the second facet of this is demonstrated: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.’” Thus: the Son yields to all that He hears the Father SAY, and that is all He says.
In John 15:9-10 the third manifestation of the Son’s willingness to be the Image of God is explained: “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” Thus: the Son yields to the demonstration of the love that He SAW in the Father.
And lastly in John 18:11: “So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?’” Thus: the Son yields to that which the Father ASKS of Him. In Heb 10:6-7 Jesus says: “In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—in the volume of the book it is written of Me—to do Your will, O God.’”
Yes, in the volume of the Book Jesus sees, hears and does and demonstrates the Way. If you truly are an image recreated in His Image (Gen 1:26; 2 Cor 5:17), then you will yield to the total Word of God.
- Sela: Clarify with God what you are willing to yield and, in so doing, truly become a reflection of His image.
- Read: 1 Sam 8; Ps 125 & 126 ; Luke 5
- Memorise: Ps 126:5-6
- Going deeper: Read chapters 3 & 6 of Grant R Jeffrey’s book The handwriting of God.
