Bible Society of South Africa

Why Jesus – 3 March 2021

By Louise Gevers

Bible text(s)

Colossians 1

The Person and Work of Christ

15Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the firstborn Son, superior to all created things. 16For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him. 17Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place. 18He is the head of his body, the church; he is the source of the body's life. He is the firstborn Son, who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first place in all things. 19For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. 20Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.

Colossians 1:15-20GNBOpen in Bible reader

A God who is inaccessible and uninterested in his creation, or a god who isn’t God, will never make an impact on the world for its good, nor meet its needs. A distant, or powerless, god could never offer healing, hope and companionship to someone crying out to him in pain, or give strength to a person working through a difficult time in their life; or pour out forgiveness on someone broken by sin and enable overflowing joy by lifting that burden, giving healing, and answering prayers.

Jesus is unique. He is supreme over everything created yet He became the visible expression of God’s love for the world, tangible in His willingness to identify with the joy and pain of human life; to die an excruciating death to bring reconciliation between God and mankind, and to be High Priest forever interceding on behalf of the world because, “Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

Jesus lived here on earth and experienced what we experience daily: He gave and received love. He knew joy, pain and sorrow. He enjoyed eating and drinking with His friends, but was a friend who understood everything and spoke truth into the lives of those around Him.

He showed God’s power by healing people of all diseases and teaching authoritatively about the Kingdom of God. Jesus offers a personal relationship with the only God who is willing to die for our sake and be a “Forever Friend” and a new, rich life of forgiveness from sin and the joy of everlasting life for those who believe in Him. (John 3:16)

Jesus has fulfilled God’s immense task to “bring the whole universe back to himself” …making “peace through His Son’s death on the cross…” – something no other god had the power to do. Nobody has ever, nor will ever, match Jesus and His impact on the world.

In a short piece of writing by an unknown author entitled One Solitary Life, which summarizes simply the chronological events of Jesus’ life, he makes a particularly noteworthy observation about Jesus: “He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. Yet all the armies that ever marched, and all the governments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, have not affected life upon this earth as powerfully as that One Solitary Life.”

Why Jesus? He is incomparable.

Prayer: Father God, You have “rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of (your) dear Son, by whom we are set free …” (Colossians 1:13,14 GNT) Thank You for caring completely about our wellbeing, for forgiving our sins, bringing us hope and making a relationship with You possible through Jesus. Amen

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