13 He has delivered 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, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Go back and read the second paragraph of this passage again. But this time, count and note every time you read the word “all” or another way of saying “all.”
How many did you get?
I got eight, but it could be argued that Paul actually has 11 instances of “all” or its equivalent in there. (When he says, “heaven and earth” it is probably a way of stating the two extremes to include everything in between.) There are only six verses in that final paragraph.
We too often imagine that Jesus died for us, or even worse, that he died for our souls. While both statements are true, they are incomplete. Jesus died and rose for the whole of creation, that thing which he called “very good” in Genesis 1:31. Sin had wrecked that creation but in Jesus God has forgiven sin, transferring us from darkness to the light-filled kingdom of His Son, Jesus. This week we are remembering and rejoicing in the promise that Jesus, the King, comes to make his reign manifest for all to see. I am looking forward to that day, for it will be the restoration of all things.