Colossians 1:15-20 “First-Place Jesus”

You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

Our passion is to experience and express grace.

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We need the reminder of that song because life will disappoint you.

Friends may let you down, but Jesus has not and will not fail us.

He won't.

Amen?

Amen.

He won't.

We just wrapped up several weeks this summer talking about our relationships with God, walking with Jesus.

What it looks like for us day by day as he meets us right where we are in our lives.

If you were here, you'll remember that we marveled at the reality that God speaks to us.

So we treasure listening to him and his word and meeting him there.

And then perhaps even more amazing that God listens to us and so we can speak to him in prayer and meet him there.

We rejoiced in the gifts of baptism and the Lord's Supper to God's people to meet us there, to taste his grace together.

Together.

Right?

Right?

And in the past couple weeks, Pastor Derek has so helpfully reminded us that God makes space for us so that we can share that space with others.

Because we walk with Jesus and meet him every day in our relationships with one another in this family and with our neighbors all throughout our lives and everywhere God takes us.

Now we are about to jump back into our study of John's gospel that we are over halfway through.

We've been encountering the real Jesus, the historical man now in the final week of his life before the cross.

And this fall we get an inside look from his beloved disciple at these final intimate words to his disciples on the night that he's betrayed.

It's going to be awesome.

I can't wait to get back into that together but actually we're going to wait one more week.

Restart that study next Sunday.

Today I want to remind us of the importance of our relationship with Jesus one more time.

Both so that we remember what we've been talking about, what we've learned this summer, to reflect on that together.

And to kind of build a bridge toward diving back into John and remembering why it is we so desperately need to see Jesus, to listen to him, to love him.

As we go back to John and read more about him there.

We never stop focusing on walking with, in relationship, Jesus.

I want to look this morning at a hymn about Jesus in Colossians chapter 1.

Colossians 1 · chapter mention

I want to take a few minutes with you to take a deep breath of Jesus, to reflect on your life wherever you are, especially if you're starting a new year.

A new rhythm in many ways to consider what it could or should look like for Jesus to be in first place.

For your walking with Jesus, moment by moment, day by day, to be the supreme purpose.

The central foundation, the highest delight of your entire life.

Let's read Colossians 1, beginning at verse 15.

God's holy, inerrant, inspired word about his son, Jesus.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.

All things were created through him and for him.

And he is before all things and in him all things hold together.

And he is the head of the body, the church.

He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.

And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

This is God's word.

Let's ask for his help.

Father, would you renew our hearts?

Would you reorder our lives according to your glory and grace?

By your word?

By your spirit?

We ask you to do it even now for us this morning.

Change us forever.

We ask in Jesus' name.

Amen.

I know many of you, like my family, have gotten to enjoy watching some of the Olympic competition this week.

See those golden moments when the athletes in first place step to the top of the podium to be honored as the greatest in the world.

Right?

The fastest, the strongest, the best at their craft.

Like these five amazing gymnast gold medalists.

It was incredible to watch.

Or like Katie Ledecky, the world's greatest distance swimmer who keeps finding herself on top of the podium year after year.

Can you imagine it?

So many amazing, gifted athletes all gathered together in one place competing.

And then out of all of those, for someone to finish in first place.

It's quite remarkable, isn't it?

It's a great achievement.

It's worthy of honor.

That word first, the best, the top ranked in the world is used of Jesus several times in our passage today.

It has even deeper meaning, even broader implications for us to see how and for what reason Jesus is in first place.

I want us to do really two things this morning.

First, for a few minutes, to wonder at the greatness of Jesus.

And then for a few minutes, talk about what difference that actually makes in our lives.

Is that greatness of Jesus coming home in the way that we relate to him and the way we live day in and day out?

So, Paul starts here by first praising Jesus as first in creation.

That word firstborn, which will be repeated in verse 18 to mark the second stanza of this hymn.

Here it means that Jesus reigns supreme over all creation.

He ranks first.

He's number one.

See, he made it all, didn't he?

He is not created.

Verse 16 is clear.

He is creator.

All things through him.

Just as we read in John chapter 1, through him all things were made.

John 1 · chapter mention

Without him nothing was made that has been made.

Trees and flowers, bears and bugs and mountains and rivers, galaxies.

Spiritual beings.

Spiritual beings.

All of them spring to life by the word of his power.

Because he brings them into existence.

And don't miss, by the way, while Paul is pointing this out.

We're going to come back to this later.

But they all exist for him.

He is the goal of all creation.

That is how high ranking the firstborn is.

In fact, verse 17, it's not just that once upon a time he was the source of all of creation.

But to this very moment, he is the one who powerfully holds it all together.

Amazing.

The bigness.

The size of Jesus to be holding all of creation together.

Some of you study space, right?

You know a lot more about it than I do, okay?

Way more.

And you're still learning more about it.

And it is mind-boggling as you consider space how small the biggest, strongest of all of us feels in that vast space.

And yet the space that we study and that we explore, Jesus, is even in this very moment, he is sustaining it.

He is holding it together.

He is causing it not to explode.

Wow.

He's huge.

Remember, we've seen it when he walked among us, right?

This is the very Jesus who speaks and the powerful storm is still, right?

Who prays and five loaves of bread and two fish feed 5,000 plus people with multiple leftovers.

Who casts out a demon with a word.

Who turns water into wine by merely asking.

Who heals the worst diseases.

Who even raises the dead.

God, every power, every part of creation bows the knee to King Jesus.

He is supreme.

He is in first place.

Because he is, in fact, the one true God.

The image of the invisible God.

The one who makes the unseen seen.

The untouchable felt.

The unknowable known.

The idea here with that word is that it's not just a good copy.

But it's something that participates in the very essence of the thing that it represents or reflects.

That kind of image.

Somewhat like a sunbeam.

That is actually sun in itself, right?

As well as it's how we feel the sun.

The radiance of the glory of God, Hebrews says.

The one who was with God and was God, John says.

This is God himself.

In a way you can touch and know and see.

Jesus is first place in creation because he supremely makes the God that we so desperately need to know.

One we can and do know.

How wonderful that is.

As if that weren't enough cause for wonder and worship at the person of Jesus.

Stanza two then praises Jesus as first in the new creation.

Verse 18.

He is the head of the body, the church.

He is the beginning.

The first born from the dead.

See, God who once upon a time breathed life into humanity.

Now when he finds them dead and separated from himself.

He breathes new life into people, doesn't he?

He recreates them through the first born who rises from the dead.

Jesus is supreme over the most powerful forces we know.

Conquering sin and death.

Becoming the first one to rise.

Never more to die, but to reign forever.

God exalted him to the highest place.

First place.

First place.

And gave him the name above every name.

The name of King Jesus.

Supreme one.

First place.

Philippians 2 tells us.

Jesus Christ is Lord.

No one else.

He is God in his fullness.

Jesus Christ is Lord.

Not merely a peace or a part of God, but the true God himself.

Rising victorious to return to his throne where he has always reigned.

And as he does that, in rising to his eternal throne, Jesus brings to life the new people of God who were far from God.

Jesus brings to life the new creation of God that was suffering under the curse of God.

He reconciles all things, verse 20 says, to God by the blood of his cross.

Because he's the firstborn from the dead.

And many, many will follow.

See, his resurrection life is what gives us hope, right?

His resurrection body.

It heralds the renewal of all creation that is presently groaning or deteriorating.

His resurrection power today fuels our life and mission.

It's his resurrection presence at God's right hand that secures our adoption, our acceptance into the family of God.

As some of the many who live never more to die.

That's true of you.

Never more to die.

He will raise you with him forever with the Father.

That is good stuff, church.

This is why he is our head.

This is why we are his people that are part of the entire creation that was made for him.

We exist for his glory so that he will receive the praise that he deserves.

We were created by him and for him.

So we worship him.

Join me in that.

Let's worship Jesus today.

And every day with full hearts.

The only one who could give us life like that, right?

Because he is the firstborn over all.

The risen King Jesus is our head.

The one who started all of this for us.

The world's great creator.

The greatest re-creator.

The firstborn over all.

With the result.

The end of verse 18.

That in everything he might be preeminent.

Kids, preeminent is a fancy word for first place.

It's got that same word first in the Greek.

It may even be used here in this hymn as a title for Jesus.

Like the incomparable Christ.

The supreme one.

The first place gold medalist Jesus.

Now just consider this with me for a second as we begin to ask how this changes our lives.

These gold medalists right here are great athletes, aren't they?

World class gymnasts.

But do you think that the five of them, is there any chance those women would get first place in basketball?

On a track relay maybe?

Could the great Katie Ledecky win first place in weightlifting or tennis?

Is that likely?

I think not.

And yet Jesus is to be first place in everything.

In every stage of life, no matter how young or old you are.

In every area of life, no matter what you have on your schedule or agenda this week.

In every single life.

What about in your life?

Is that where he is?

See for most of us, most of the time,

what we experience in our lives is Jesus as one among many slices of life that we have to manage.

This right here is not the picture that the Bible gives us, to be clear.

I don't want you to be confused.

But you see Jesus here as one slice up there at the top of a pie.

And we have to manage all of these things.

With nothing at the center,

with nothing in first place,

supremely orchestrating the heart and goal of our lives,

what happens?

Our own instincts,

our desires,

our comfort,

they become central

and they direct us toward managing all these varied priorities,

including Jesus,

for our own purposes.

This is true for all of us.

We all have a lot of things to manage.

But I've been thinking,

especially this week of young people,

as you start a new school year.

Will you look at this pie with me for a couple minutes?

This is one I made a special for you.

You can read some of them.

You'll notice Jesus is still there.

Up there, kind of top right.

Life can be really challenging.

Can't it?

I mean, just think, young people,

all the relationships

that you're managing,

your family,

your friends,

all the classes at school,

the different subjects you're trying to learn,

what you look like,

what you're going to wear,

the hobbies you enjoy,

or the college you're getting ready for,

or the part-time job you have.

You got to check social media to stay in the loop.

You got to make sure you figure out what skibbity means,

because otherwise you might be left out.

I don't know what it means,

but some of you do.

And if you don't keep up with these things,

you're going to be left out, right?

That's an anxiety I would carry.

And in the midst of all of that,

you're trying to manage,

and so much more,

Jesus, too.

Jesus is, like, really important to you,

isn't he?

But it's all just so much,

so much to manage.

You may even love Jesus so much

that you think what many of us do,

that what you really need to do

is make that Jesus slice of the pie a bit larger,

you know?

Like, read a devotional,

or rush to youth group as many times as possible,

or join FCA,

or something to make Jesus

get just a little bit bigger, right?

I get it.

I've done that.

But see what happens as the days go by,

and more and more people come in,

and more and more decisions,

and more and more responsibilities,

they all get added into your life,

and you start to feel pressure

to squeeze it all in,

and somehow make it all make sense,

and figure out who you are in the midst of that.

And some of us hold that together

longer than others, right?

But eventually, at some point,

it will just explode.

It's just gonna fall apart.

Maybe you've felt it,

maybe you're feeling that it could be there

in just a few days.

We feel this overwhelming confusion,

like, where do I even start

to pick up the pieces,

and know how to put my life back together,

and figure out what I'm supposed to do.

It feels like way too much.

Kids, you know why it sometimes

feels like way too much,

and you start to feel pressure and anxiety,

maybe even right now while I'm talking about it?

Sometimes it feels like that because it is.

It is too much.

It is more than we can manage.

And so,

God is speaking to you today from His Word

to tell you something that will help you

not just with this school year,

but with the rest of your life.

Jesus first

in everything.

Everything.

How many things do you leave out of everything?

Nothing.

In everything.

Don't start by trying to figure everything out.

It won't work on your own.

Start by turning to Jesus.

Seeing how supremely valuable He is,

and then let Him direct all of those other things.

See, it's not merely that Jesus needs to be

a bigger slice of your life.

That will just build pressure for you, won't it?

It's truly that He is first place

in every aspect of your life.

So slowly, maybe one piece at a time,

you can start by asking,

what does it look like for Jesus

to be first place in my schoolwork?

That's a hard question.

That'll take you a while to sort through.

You can ask,

what does it look like for Jesus

to be first place in my friendships?

What does it look like for Jesus

to be first place in my money,

my free time,

with my phone?

But we need to ask all those questions

because He is that worthy.

He is that wonderful

that He would be first place

in everything.

Young people,

if that seems tough to you,

you should ask your parents

how they're doing it, right?

So that they can help you.

But when you do that,

when you go to your parents,

you need to be patient

because if they're anything

like the adults in my house,

they'll need to admit

that they don't live with Jesus

in first place

in every area of life either.

They're still learning.

They're trying to figure that out

and all that that means

in their life.

But we need to do that together.

And don't you long to?

Don't you long for that

to be more of what your life is like?

Wouldn't that give our lives purpose

and direction

and focus

so that we're not overwhelmed

all the time?

But instead,

we're living the way

our Maker designed us to live,

to flourish?

Y'all, it's hard

to keep Jesus in first place

for a lot of reasons.

We have so many commitments

that we may have to drop

or hold back on

some good things

in order to make sure

we don't miss

the best thing.

Our lives are so full

of so much

that sometimes

we have to simplify things

or it will explode.

Right?

You've been there.

It's hard to keep Jesus

at the center

because living with myself

at the center

is more natural.

It requires a lot less effort

and a lot less intentionality.

I'm used to it.

I know how to live that way.

But it's also hard

for another reason

I want to be honest about

for a couple minutes.

Jesus being first place

in your life

is both better

and worse

than the other things

that take his place

in first place.

In other words

it's not always better

in terms of how our lives feel.

That's a lie.

That's not what the Bible says.

It does not

just make everything easy

all the time.

No.

I wrestled with this

this week.

I wrestled with

considering Jesus first

multiple times

even as I was preparing

to preach about it.

You think I could have

had a good week?

An easy week

of Jesus being first.

It's all I was studying about.

And he brought a neighbor

into my path

who was inconvenient

for me to love

and didn't fit my schedule

and I needed to sit

and listen

and I didn't have time

I thought.

I struggled with

living with Jesus first

when my car repair

cost more than I expected.

I hadn't planned

to use the money that way.

I had other plans for it.

I struggled with it

when I felt

the decision Jesus

wanted me to make

as a parent

was disappointing

to my kids

and I hate that feeling

of disappointing them.

If you consider

Jesus first place

in your friendships

you may find yourself

left out

by a group

you really care

to be liked by

because you're loving

someone who is

already lonely

and left out

the way Jesus

would love them.

It doesn't feel good.

If you decide

to consider

Jesus first

in your job

it may at times

mean that you don't

make quite as much money

or get to

buy that car

or that dress

if you consider

Jesus first

in your free time

you may decide

he wouldn't have you

doing something

that you enjoy doing

and you sacrifice

that

in order to live

with him.

You'll still have

hard family arguments

still get news

of cancer

you'll still make

mistakes at work

it does not

magically

fix everything

okay

but

but

having

Jesus

in first place

planning your life

around your

relationship with him

is better

even when it

seems or feels

worse

don't miss this

as you spend

more time

with Jesus

as his love

for you

transforms your life

and your reality

living with him

first

is best

it is

best

because

no matter who

you're left out by

you'll never be left

alone by him

or without community

and his family

you'll always have that

because no matter

what you can't afford

your value

is secure

by the precious

blood

of Jesus Christ

given for you

because no matter

what bad

medical news

you receive

you're never

without eternal

hope

and the promise

of a resurrection

body that will be

given to you

that will never

break

and will never

hurt

and will always

last

it's better

even best

to consider

Jesus

first

because no matter

how challenging

your marriage is

you will be

tasting the love

of a perfect

spouse

who loves you

unfailingly

and forever

because no matter

how badly

you mess up

at work

or school

you'll always

have an identity

that's established

outside of anything

you do

or how well

you perform

you'll be

safe

and secure

and valuable

in Christ

because no matter

how many experiences

you feel like

you're missing out

on in this life

you'll never

run out of time

through eternity

to explore

every inch

of God's

glorious creation

and enjoy life

to the full

with Him

and with others

you love

forever

see no matter

whom you lose

or what it costs you

you'll have

Jesus

Himself

the great King

over all creation

the powerful

sustainer

of the universe

the supreme

lover

of your soul

He

will be

yours

always

never

ever

letting you down

Southwood

I'm inviting

you

again

I am

urging

you

to join

me

in the

journey

of walking

with Jesus

learning

together

what it means

in our lives

to have Him

in first place

in

everything

that's why

we're still here

this morning

I don't want

anyone to miss

this

in case you're

wondering

this is a journey

that will not end

I'm committed

to keeping it

before us

keeping us

on this journey

in fact

as a church

it is our first

core commitment

to being

Christ

centered

by which we mean

in every slice

of life

not just in our

preaching

or on Sundays

but in our mission

our shepherding

our serving

in all of life

24-7

365

we must do

this together

we need one another

for this

right

we as your leaders

are especially

trying to keep this

before us right now

because we know

how vital it is

and because we know

how hard it is

because we're living

it with you

it's a struggle

for us

too

so especially

be listening

in the days

and weeks

ahead

be talking

together

about how we

consider Jesus

first

lots of ways

to have this

on your radar

as we go back

to the gospel

of John

week in

and week out

and watch

and listen

to Jesus

hear his final

passionate

instructions to us

what it looks like

to live in relationship

with him

as we gather

in grace groups

to process together

what we're learning

and how this

transforms our lives

it's this first

place

Jesus

that is

what will be

training our

grace group

leaders

to help you

walk in together

as we gather

with

the parents

of kids

and youth

and we're going

to talk about

the very same thing

how we model

Christ centered living

and shape our kids

toward Christ centered

living together

Jesus first

in parenting

in work

in friendship

in time

in money

in marriage

there's a lot

to talk about

don't sit

on the sidelines

of this journey

don't think

Jesus is okay

with the bronze medal

hey he's a part

of my life

that's all he ever

wanted

don't think

you're the gold medalist

who will eventually

sort your own life out

it's just really busy

right now

but you'll eventually

figure it out

no

no

come back

and be a part

of this now

Jesus

first

one last

word of encouragement

for us

in this

this is especially

for those

who are like me

who feel convicted

when you hear this

maybe

like me

it's because

you've heard this

your whole life

and you're

you're kind of

cynical about it

at this point

you're a little

skeptical

you're like

yeah I mean

I've believed that

since I was a kid

but I don't feel

like it's ever

kind of

taken hold of me

I don't feel like

it's ever

made the difference

that it was

supposed to

and so I don't know

what's going to be

different this time

I keep failing

to live the way

that I should

that's actually

a good thing

to feel

because there's

there's hope

right there

first there's

bad news

you're likely

to fail again

probably this afternoon

if I had to guess

at considering

Jesus first

in everything

in your life

but there's

really good news

and I want this

to inspire

your heart

in a new way

and in fresh

relationship

with Jesus

Jesus considered

us first

for all the times

that we didn't

consider him first

all of them

look at what

follows this

glorious

Christ hymn

it ends by saying

Jesus' cross

reconciles

everything in the

world to God

and as for you

you who were

once alienated

from God

the Father

who were

hostile to him

in your mind

who were doing

evil deeds

even when you

were doing

the most evil

deed possible

what's that

removing God

from the center

the throne

of your heart

and your life

that's the first

commandment

right

that we confessed

earlier in the service

we've failed

to obey

even then

Jesus has

reconciled you

by his death

so that he presents

you holy

and blameless

and above reproach

to his Father

who has become

now and forever

your Father

what amazing grace

that Jesus

would do that

instead of his

own comfort

Jesus considered

us first

and what we

would need

and how much

he means to us

so that we now

by his very

spirit

given to us

can join in the

journey

the exciting

costly

hard

fulfilling

journey

of considering

him

first place

in

everything

what a gracious

Savior

let's ask for his

help

Jesus

we

renew

even now

our commitment

to relationship

with you

before anything

else

oh Holy

Spirit

we ask

for your

help

because our

hearts

are so

prone

to wander

and even

when

when our

hearts

come to

life

and our

spirits

are willing

you know

our flesh

is weak

so help

us

we pray

that we

would not

just give

lip service

to Jesus

that we

would not

just

grow his

slice of

the pie

but that we

would experience

what it means

that he would

be preeminent

in everything

for his glory

and for our

good we ask

it in his

name

amen

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information

visit us

online

at

southwood.org