Week 2 | Friday
Friday – None Greater
Written by Russ Elam (Jefferson Campus)
Ephesians 1:22-23
“And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
Each area of our lives has its celebrities—the people “you have to know,” the influencers. If it is school or sports, there is THAT person people strive to impress. If it is our workplace, there is THAT person from which people seek recognition. If it is matters of faith or spirituality, there is THAT person to whom we give more attention. Far from being a modern phenomenon, the quest for meaning and significance was apparent among the first followers of Jesus. It makes sense that Paul, in concluding his prayer, would address the issue of preeminence.
Our passage is built upon Paul’s thought that Jesus is not just raised from the dead, but he also now holds a place of supreme authority (v. 20-21). To this, Paul couples two more thoughts. First, all things have been placed under the feet of Jesus. While the imagery drips with Old and New Testament influence (cf. Ps. 110:1; 8;6; 1 Cor 15:24-28; Heb 2:5-9), the point of his mastery is not merely that Jesus’ superiority is comprehensive. Yes, he is superior, BUT all things are subjected to him, and he will one day fully acknowledge his superiority . Second, Jesus, the Savior of the Church, is a gift from God to the Church. While he is the head of the Church, he is also the unifier of the Church.
What does this mean to us? First, it can answer that deep yearning we have to see the work of God advance unrestricted. We, like the creation, long, as we wait for his final act in the plan of redemption, when his rule is physically manifested, and all the creation is released from the former curse of sin ). Secondly, it can supply the meaning all humanity is seeking. When Paul wrote the “fullness of him who fills everything in every way,” he is saying that Jesus brings a fullness that nothing on Earth can; to be united with him means that you and I have been filled with a meaning that is complete, absolute, and lacks nothing…NOTHING! Reality with Jesus means that any perceived lack is merely an issue of perception.
Reflection Questions:
- Who is that significant person in my life that I strive to impress?
- What challenges am I facing as I acknowledge Jesus as the King of all?
- How is the idea of Jesus as unifier of the church influencing my response to others?
- What is corrupting my perception of Jesus filling me completely?
Prayer Prompt:
“Father, you have given me everything in Jesus. May this truth invade every thought, every action, and every conversation.”