In the Bible, from the book of Colossians 1:15-20 titled as The Supremacy of Christ, we read the below;
“The Son (Jesus Christ) is the visible image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 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 and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
The above passage describes Jesus being the visible image of the invisible God and the two things that stands out for me in the above description of Christ is as below:
- Firstborn over all creation
- Reconciliation through the blood of Christ
In the Bible, in the old testament, the firstborn of everything was dedicated to the Lord. Even the first fruits of the crops belonged to the Lord. We read in the book of Numbers from the Bible, chapter 3 verses 39 onwards that “The Lord first asks Moses to take a census of all the firstborn and then commands him to ask the Levites to take the place of the firstborn Israelites. Since the firstborn were more than the number of Levites God again asks Moses to collect 5 shekels for each firstborn, give it to the Levites (Aaron and his sons) and redeem every firstborn.
The Levites were then dedicated to the Lord as a redemption for all the firstborn. The Levites were separated/consecrated for God to redeem the people.
The most beautiful thing that touched me personally as a mother is that my first born will always be special for me. It was my firstborn that first made me a mother. After the firstborn, how many ever children God gives me, my firstborn will always remain precious for me. There is a beautiful feeling when the firstborn is born, a feeling of being a mother for the first time. As a mother I can never give away my firstborn for anybody but here we see a different picture about God.
As we read in Colossians that Jesus – the firstborn of God was given away for each one of our redemption. It was the precious blood of Jesus that reconciled each one of us to God. God just gave away His very own firstborn for the redemption of all the mankind.
According to 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 20 to 22 it is written “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” When Adam and Eve committed the sin and death entered the earth and the entire human race, God made a way for each one of us to have eternal life through the death and resurrection of His one and only firstborn Jesus Christ. This is the father heart of God, who for us – the enemies of God, chose to sacrifice His own Son Jesus Christ through the cruel death on the cross so that when we believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection, we will have eternal life – a life forever with Him in heaven.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
You are all free to experience this eternal life. This invitation to everlasting life is open to all mankind. You just have to believe in Jesus (that He died for your sins, rose up from the dead and is coming back again to take us all to heaven), invite Him into your heart and receive His love, grace and forgiveness. The moment you do this, you get a taste of heaven.