I am a fan of the action stories featuring Jason Bourne, the character created by American author Robert Ludlum. I enjoy the “non-stop-ed-ness” of the storylines that keep you on the edge of your seat. In one of the stories, Bourne proves himself as truly worthy of out-smarting everyone trying to catch him. The story is titled, “The Bourne Supremacy,” and, sure enough, the way he overpowers his adversaries allowed his story to live on for another sequel.
In a few weeks, the six Baptist churches in our neighborhood will consider together the question, “What is the Cross?,” as we meet together each evening, March 27-31 and April 5. That question, while it can be approached from various angles, is largely answered by the Apostle Paul’s description of “The Christ Supremacy” in his letter to the church at Colossae. It is there that Paul describes how Jesus overpowers the adversaries of sin and death by going to the cross for us. Paul writes: “Christ is the image of the invisible God…who 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. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him” (Col. 1:15-19). From this place of supremacy, Paul declares his answer to, “what is the cross?” viz.:
- Peace with God: “Through Christ God reconciled to himself all things…making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (1:20). Jesus’ death on the cross makes it possible for us to live in peace because we are brought into a relationship with God.
- Forgiveness of Sin: “God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins…nailing it to the cross” (2:14). What we can’t do for ourselves –forgive sins and make ourselves right with God – Jesus does for us on the cross.
- Victory over evil and death: “Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (2:15). We know that the Lord fights for us against temptation and testing, and even when we face death because Jesus has “rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (1:13-14).
Yes, The Christ Supremacy was won by our Lord Jesus on the cross. Let’s plan to come together with our sister churches, March 27-31 and April 5, as much as you are able, as we celebrate this good news and prepare our hearts together to finish the Lenten journey to the cross on Good Friday.
In the Love of Jesus,
Tony Tench
PS. I thank God for you all here at Poplar Springs Baptist Church. Janet and I are blessed by your encouragement for us, for sure. What’s more is that we are blessed by the ways we see God at work in your lives and through your lives to care for one another and to share Jesus’ love in our community!