Phyllis’ pre-teen body had always been frail from her sickle-cell anemia. Her frailty was further exacerbated by a lack of proper nourishment due to her mother’s neglect. In addition, her brother received all the attention and affection in the family.

By all accounts, hers was a difficult life. But what Phyllis had was a stout faith in Jesus that produced great joy and peace in her life.

Phyllis was one of the first to show me a vital truth: Who you believe Jesus is matters. It will determine where you find ultimate hope and what anchors you in every season.

Who is Jesus?

Paul wrote a letter to the saints in Colossae to help refocus them on the gospel of Jesus amidst some heresies looming in their time. Paul understood that it is the truth of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done that keeps us from straying into tantalizing yet false beliefs.

In Colossians 1:15-23, Paul writes,

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. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,  if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

In these verses, we learn that Jesus is divine (v. 15). He is fully God. While humanity is created in the image of God, Jesus is God. To state that he is the “firstborn over all creation” means he is supreme over creation.

Jesus is the agent and context of creation (v. 16-17). All creation is to serve and glorify him. Jesus is supreme over all thrones, powers, and authorities in heaven and on earth.

Jesus holds all things together: unity and purpose originate and continue in him. Jesus sustains the cosmos, and it is in him alone that there is unity.

Jesus is supreme over the Church (v.18). He is her anchor, sustenance, and reason for existence, and he alone is to be worshiped. To worship another is idolatry!

In the Old Testament, God’s presence dwelled in the temple, and in this passage, we learn that Jesus fulfills the role of the temple, as the presence of God dwells fully in him (v.20).

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