Firstborn: Colossians 1:19-20
“19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,”—(Colossians 1:19, NASB 95)
“46 And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. 49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. 50 “AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. 51 “He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. 52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. 53 “HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. 54 “He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.” 56 And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.”—(Luke 1:46–56, NASB 95)
“19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. ”—(Luke 2:19, NASB 95)
“51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.”—(Luke 2:51, NASB 95)
“10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.””—(Mark 1:10–11, NASB 95)
“5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” ”—(Matthew 17:5, NASB 95)
“13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. 21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— [1]”—(Colossians 1:13–22, NASB 95)
We love our kids, and that would be true for Mary as she held her firstborn child, Jesus. Her love, gratitude, and pleasure in Jesus are recorded early in the Jesus narrative. Mary’s Magnificat celebrates the news from the Angel, Gabriel, and after visiting her miraculously pregnant cousin, Elizabeth. Mary’s heart was full! What about the Father? We know that Jesus is God’s son. Jesus is referred to as God’s beloved son. I think it is easy to see Jesus as currency for a business transaction. We are sinners in need of redemption, and here comes God with a pocket full of Jesus’ flesh and blood to redeem us. When we nullify the relational aspect of God the Father with God the Son, we miss the depth of this relationship. Jesus was not just a person to be used like a lamb to be slaughtered. While His body and blood are the payment needed for the forgiveness of sins, they come at a tremendous relational cost. God loves His son. His heart was full.
“46 And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. 49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. 50 “AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. 51 “He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. 52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. 53 “HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. 54 “He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.” 56 And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.”—(Luke 1:46–56, NASB 95)
“19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. ”—(Luke 2:19, NASB 95)
“51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.”—(Luke 2:51, NASB 95)
“10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.””—(Mark 1:10–11, NASB 95)
“5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” ”—(Matthew 17:5, NASB 95)
“13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. 21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— [1]”—(Colossians 1:13–22, NASB 95)
We love our kids, and that would be true for Mary as she held her firstborn child, Jesus. Her love, gratitude, and pleasure in Jesus are recorded early in the Jesus narrative. Mary’s Magnificat celebrates the news from the Angel, Gabriel, and after visiting her miraculously pregnant cousin, Elizabeth. Mary’s heart was full! What about the Father? We know that Jesus is God’s son. Jesus is referred to as God’s beloved son. I think it is easy to see Jesus as currency for a business transaction. We are sinners in need of redemption, and here comes God with a pocket full of Jesus’ flesh and blood to redeem us. When we nullify the relational aspect of God the Father with God the Son, we miss the depth of this relationship. Jesus was not just a person to be used like a lamb to be slaughtered. While His body and blood are the payment needed for the forgiveness of sins, they come at a tremendous relational cost. God loves His son. His heart was full.
Discussion Questions
1. Why is it so easy to neglect the relational aspect of God the Father and Jesus being His beloved son?
2. All of God’s fullness (deity) was in Jesus, according to Colossians 1:19 and 2:9. Why is it important to note that Jesus was 100% God and man?
3. Jesus needed to be fully man to suffer and sympathize with us. Read Hebrews 2:17-18 and John 11:33-36 and discuss how Jesus suffered and sympathized with us as men.
4. Jesus had to be truly God to satisfy the judgment of sin and secure our salvation. Read John 14:6-11 and 1 John 4:9-10 and discuss how Jesus satisfied and secured as God.
5. Russell referenced the quote from Henry Scougal, “The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love.” God loves His son. What are the things that we love? Where does Jesus rank in that list?
2. All of God’s fullness (deity) was in Jesus, according to Colossians 1:19 and 2:9. Why is it important to note that Jesus was 100% God and man?
3. Jesus needed to be fully man to suffer and sympathize with us. Read Hebrews 2:17-18 and John 11:33-36 and discuss how Jesus suffered and sympathized with us as men.
4. Jesus had to be truly God to satisfy the judgment of sin and secure our salvation. Read John 14:6-11 and 1 John 4:9-10 and discuss how Jesus satisfied and secured as God.
5. Russell referenced the quote from Henry Scougal, “The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love.” God loves His son. What are the things that we love? Where does Jesus rank in that list?
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