Nature

The Nature of Jesus (Some Aspects) (Col. 1:15-28) Image of God (Col. 1:15 & 17, Isa. 7:14, Matt. 1:22-23, John 1: 14-18, 14:9, 2 Cor. 4:4, Heb. 1:3) Image (Greek, eikon): reflection, representation, likeness, embodiment In terms of computer users, if you click on the Jesus “icon”, you get to God! Man also made in God’s Image (Gen. 1:26-27, 5:3, 9:6, 1 Cor. 11:7) Christian’s are to patterned after the image of Jesus (Rom. 8:28-30, 1 Cor. 15:42-49, 2 Cor. 3:16-18, Col. 3:10) Firstborn (Col. 1:15, Heb. 1:6, Rev. 3:14) Under Jewish law A Sacrifice Belonging to God: firstborn son considered devoted to God because the firstborn of the Israelites was spared at Passover (Ex. 13:12) An Heir to Father’s Wealth: received a double portion of the father’s inheritance (Deut. 21:17, see also Heb. 1:2) Jacob & Esau Esau, one of the twin sons of Isaac, was born first, therefore he had the right of the firstborn to inherit the estate of his father. But through a strange series of events, Jacob, the other twin, tricked his father into conferring that blessing upon him. He stole from Esau, by trickery, the right of firstborn. Yet that act was honored of God. The right to be firstborn was transferred from Esau to Jacob, and Jacob became the heir of the promises of God to Isaac. Thus, we must understand that the one born first is not necessarily the "firstborn." Manasseh & Ephraim Jacob himself later had sons, one of whom was Joseph, who in turn had two sons whom he named Manasseh and Ephraim. At the end of his life, Jacob went down to Egypt to visit his son Joseph, and Joseph brought his two boys before him, Manasseh, the firstborn, and Ephraim, the younger. Joseph placed Manasseh under Jacob's right hand, and Ephraim under his left hand, so that Manasseh would receive the blessing of the firstborn. But Jacob did a very unusual thing. We are not told why, but for some strange reason, known only to God and himself perhaps, Jacob crossed his hands and laid his left hand on Manasseh, the one born first, and his right hand upon Ephraim. Thus, Ephraim became the "firstborn," though he was not the one born first. By means of a cross the right of the firstborn was transferred to the younger son! An Heir to the Throne: usually heir to the throne (but not always, as in case of Solomon) All things created by and for Him (Col. 1:16, John 1:3 & 10, Eph. 3:9, Heb 1:2)

When Queen Elizabeth II was crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, he laid the crown on her head with the sure pronouncement, "I give thee, O sovereign lady, this crown to wear until he who reserves the right to wear it shall return." Queen Victoria once told her chaplain that she hoped Jesus' second coming would occur during her reign. The chaplain wondered why, and the queen explained, "So I can take my crown and lay it at his feet." In Him all things hold together (Col. 1:17, Heb. 1:3) What does Jesus hold together? “all things” (i.e. atoms, the earth, our church, our marriages, our families, etc.) Beginning and Head of the Church (Col. 1:18, Acts 4:11, Eph. 1:22, Heb. 12:22-24) Firstborn (to everlasting life) from among the dead (Col. 1:18, Rom. 4:25, 1 Cor. 15:20-28, Rev. 1:5) Supreme in (Lord of) Heaven & Earth (Col. 1:18, Is. 45:23, Rom:14:11, Phil. 2:10, Heb. 1:6) Reconciler Between God and Man (Col. 1:19-23, Rom. 5:10, 8:1-2, 31-34, 2 Cor. 5:18-20, Heb. 2:17) Between Jew and Gentile (Col. 1:27, Rom. 11:13-15, Eph. 2:13-18)