How does John 3:35 connect with Colossians 1:16-17 about Jesus' supremacy? Verse Snapshots • John 3:35 — “The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.” • Colossians 1:16-17 — “For in Him all things were created, things 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. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Shared Theme: “All Things” in Christ’s Hands • John stresses that the Father “has placed” (handed over) every single thing to Jesus. • Paul explains why that hand-over is fitting: Jesus Himself is the Creator of “all things.” • Both passages insist that nothing—seen or unseen—lies outside Christ’s authority. Jesus as Creator, Owner, and Sustainer • Creator: “All things were created through Him” (Colossians 1:16). He spoke and worlds existed (cf. Hebrews 1:2). • Owner: “For Him” (Colossians 1:16) echoes “placed all things in His hands” (John 3:35); creation is His rightful possession. • Sustainer: “In Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). What the Father placed in His hands, He actively preserves (cf. Hebrews 1:3). The Father’s Act of Love and Trust • John highlights the motive—love. The transfer of authority is an outflow of eternal affection within the Godhead. • The Father entrusts everything to the One perfectly qualified: the pre-existent Son who made and upholds the universe. • This divine hand-off showcases the unity of purpose shared by Father and Son (cf. John 5:19-23). Echoes Across Scripture • Matthew 28:18 — “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” • Philippians 2:9-11 — Every knee will bow and every tongue confess His lordship. • Revelation 5:12 — Heaven proclaims the Lamb “worthy… to receive power.” • Hebrews 1:2-3 — The Son is “appointed heir of all things” and “sustains all things by His powerful word.” Practical Takeaways • Confidence: Because Christ holds and upholds all, nothing in life escapes His control. • Worship: Recognizing His supremacy moves hearts from casual admiration to wholehearted adoration. • Obedience: The One who created and sustains us deserves our immediate, joyful submission. • Hope: The universe is not spinning aimlessly; it is securely held together by pierced but powerful hands. |
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