Supremacy of Christ: Image of the Invisible God
Colossians 1 v 15
The Son is the image of the invisible God
How can there be an image of an invisible god? This seems illogical. Surely an invisible god has no image, by definition.
The word translated invisible can figuratively mean the spiritual reality or the Unseen Realm. So Jesus is the Seen image of the Unseen God.
Pagan Gods are Seen
If you went and watched an Egyptian ritual, you may see an ark. Arks were common Egyptian religious furniture. They looked the same as the Ark of the Covenant, but had an idol or image of the god on the lid.
On the Ark of the Covenant, there was no image of Yahweh, because He is the Unseen God.
In pagan Rome, the images and idols of the gods were everywhere. Their presence could be felt physically, as you walked around the city.
With Yahweh, His Presence was not seen in the image of an idol. His Presence was experienced through the Angel of the Lord, a pillar of cloud, a burning bush which wasn’t consumed and many other forms. But never in an idol.
Made in the Image of God
In Genesis 2, we see God make Adam out of the dirt and breathed spirit into him. Adam bore the Image of God. Adam soon sinned and the Image was stained. It is the same with all humanity, we all bear the Image of God, but it is distorted by sin.
When Christ incarnated, God took on human flesh. This Image of God was not blemished by sin, as He was sinless. In fact, anywhere He went on this Earth, He was not tainted by sin. Even though He ate and drank with sinners.
John 14 v 8-9
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.
Here we see Jesus is effectively saying He is the pure and undistorted Image of God.
When we look on Jesus, even through Scripture, we see God. We see God walking on the waters, feeding 5,000 hungry people and a woman anoint His feet, kissed them and brushed them with her hair.
Luke 7 v 37-38
And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment.
Next time you read the Gospels, try changing the word Jesus to God. You might be surprised by your reaction.