Colossians 1:15-20 is such a magnificent passage of scripture, a "Jesus hymn" that shows the enormity of what Christ has done and will do. It encourages us with the truth that Christ's life, death and resurrection have set into motion God's big plan - to restore and reconcile all things. This includes the church, humanity and all creation.

Dave's poetic version of this text intends to bring out some of this detail in an engaging and stirring fashion. You could have a more straightforward translation read out first, if you like.

Extract from the poem:

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;?God with flesh on, dressed in our clothes,
walking, talking, weeping, laughing, eating, drinking, working, resting.

For in him and through him all things in heaven and on earth were created,
things visible and invisible;
this physical world, the spiritual, emotional and psychological,
people, places, planets and personalities.

He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together;?he is the divine bond, the mediator, the prince of peace, the architect,
holding the universe, holding people, holding the future.

He is the head of the body, the church;
this ragged collection of believers, this dysfunctional family, this holy temple,
you and I, struggling to get along, holding his treasure in these stumbling bodies, these jars of clay.

He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, ?so that he might have first place in everything;
crucified, dead and buried, the ultimate sacrifice,?resurrected and breathing new life into his followers.

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell;
the compassion, the beauty, the strength, the creativity and good humour,
he is the foundation and the finish, everything that was and will be...

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