Supremacy & Submission

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. –Colossians 1:16-18 

What adjective(s) comes to mind as you consider this description of Jesus? It’s interesting that the Apostle Paul uses a variation of the word supreme as a summation of the person and position of Jesus.

When I was a teenager, I remember riding my bike to Taco Bell because that was the place to get the cheapest food in town. I could get a Taco for .49 cents, but for an additional .30 cents I could upgrade to the “supreme” taco. That was the first time I remember encountering  the word “supreme,” and as a teenager I learned rather quickly that “supreme” meant “better than.” In this case, a supreme taco was better than a regular taco because it used better ingredients. To be honest, it’s hard to believe anything from Taco Bell is of the highest quality but I hope you get the point.

Supreme (def.)–highest in rank or authority; paramount; sovereign; chief. of the highest quality, degree, character, importance  

Looking back at the passage in Colossians, Paul lists 5 unique attributes about Jesus that set him apart as supreme. Take a moment and reflect on these 5 attributes and how they impact you.

All of these attributes add up to one conclusive statement by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 3:18, “so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”    

Here is the question for you to consider, “Is Jesus supreme in your life?”     

The key to realizing Jesus’ supremacy is through submission, where we acknowledge our limitations and embrace his qualifications. To make this ultra practical, we can take inventory of the universal resources that God has given each of us and ask ourselves if he really is supreme.