Who is this man?

Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 

And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Matthew 8:26-27

Most people will agree that a man by the name of Jesus lived in the land of Palestine two millenniums ago. Every religion acknowledges him. No one denies the existence and the life of Jesus. However, every religion seems to regard him differently.

How should we think about him? Who was he? Many believe Jesus to be an outstanding teacher who contributed his unprecedented wisdom to the Jewish culture, which has spread all over the globe. Many other people see Jesus as a man who died for the sins of the world. Whatever the belief, most people will agree with the fact that this was an extraordinary man.

Jesus was a wise man, who died for the sins of the world, after living an extraordinary life. However, he was not just a man. Paul in a letter to the Colossian church shows the divine character of Jesus. It seems as if he pulls the curtain that has been hung in the background of the entire story of God to reveal the enthroned Jesus who is God. Paul shows them the supremacy of Jesus over everything. He tells the church that Jesus is the exact representation of the invisible God, who is the Lord over all creation, and the Creator of all things.

Paul announces this truth to a church who consisted of saved people who had faith, which was evidently shown through their love towards one another. This letter comes to them while they are consumed with seemingly spiritual things. Their attention and their time was devoted to angels, visions, and to various strict disciplines, including their diet. All of this seemed reasonable for the people of the church in Colossae.

When Paul hears of this from Epaphras, he begins to pray unceasingly about them asking the Lord to fill them with His wisdom and understanding. When Paul starts to write the letter to this church, he views the supremacy of Jesus Christ of utmost priority for these people. Paul urges them to set their minds on the One who is Lord over everything throughout the entire epistle.

While reading and studying Colossians in the last couple of months, I have observed in myself the same tendency that Paul describes in his letter. I place great worth to things that are temporary and trivial, which indeed have no meaning and purpose in light of the One who is Lord over everything. He is the One who deserves all worship. He is worthy to consume all of my thoughts, actions, and conversations, because it is this man, that proved to be the loving God, who created me and has died for me!