Colossians 1:15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
The Invisible Man was originally a novel by H.G. Wells and was later made into at least two movies that I know of. It’s a fascinating idea, of course, and has led to many a discussion about what one might do if they were capable of such a thing. In both the book and the movies, the only way the main character could be “seen” after his transformation was when he chose to put on clothing or covered himself in some sort of material like paint or make-up. At the point, the invisible became visible.
The word translated image (the ancient Greek word eikon) expressed two ideas: Likeness, as in the image on a coin or the reflection in a mirror, and Manifestation, with the sense that God is fully revealed in Jesus. Or, as F.F. Bruce explains, “To call Christ the image of God is to say that in Him the being and nature of God have been perfectly manifested—that in Him the invisible has become visible.” If you have ever wondered what God is actually “like,” you need only look to the life of Jesus Christ. This is why Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:9).
Sometimes, people think of God as being somehow different than Jesus…but that simply is not the case. The Trinity is a wonderful mystery and clearly shows the limits of the human mind as we wrestle with its meaning…but it remains a reality. Three in one. One in three. Different roles yet the same. “What Would Jesus Do?” became a popular saying (bracelet), but it might as well have read, “What Would God Do?”. Even though the God of the Universe is beyond our comprehension in terms of His ultimacy and intelligence, He became intimately knowable in human terms via his manifestation as Jesus of Nazareth. Therefore, What God Would Do is exactly what Jesus did.
With respect to the second half of today’s passage, it has been used by cults like The Jehovah’s Witnesses to claim that rather than being God, Jesus was merely the first angel he created. They could not be more wrong. The word “firstborn” (prototokos) refers not to the first one created or born, but to the one who has the preeminence or the right to rule as an heir has the right to rule over his predecessor’s estate. The same term is used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Quite simply, it means that Jesus is the Master of the Universe.
In Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous painting of The Last Supper, the Lord’s hands are empty. And therein lies a story. Da Vinci dedicated three years to this painting, determined that it would be his crowning work. Before the unveiling, he decided to show it to a friend whose opinion he had the utmost respect for. The friend’s praise was unbounded. “The cup in Jesus’ hand,” he said, “is especially beautiful.” Disappointed, at once Da Vinci began to paint out the cup—to remove it from the scene. Astonished, the distinguished friend asked for an explanation. “Nothing,” Da Vinci explained, “must distract from the figure of Christ.”
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
