By Greg Grotewold
We have a large rock in our front yard. It must weigh 500 pounds. It sits right in the middle of an island of landscaping but has served purposes beyond decorative. Given its girth, this borderline boulder lent itself to all types of uses when our boys were young: a lookout tower, a base, a shield, a hiding spot, and any other recreational uses they could conjure up.
The rock’s most important function, though, is a symbolic one. It represents invariability. The thing simply doesn’t change. The big stone looks and weighs the same today as it did 20 years ago when we bought the house. Short of Armageddon, it will look and weigh the same 2,000 years from now. And when I look at that rock, I think of Jesus. He also does not change. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8, ESV).
Jesus has sameness. He carries and exercises the same authority irrespective of circumstance or span of time. Such immutability is only impressive, however, if the degree to which He carries such authority is impressive. A consistent display of marginal strength isn’t terribly compelling.
Exactly how powerful is Jesus? Paul makes it clear in what I consider the most potent passage in all of Scripture.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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. And 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, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Colossians 1:15-18, ESV).
Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He resembles God because He is God. Jesus is the firstborn of all creation. He was begotten, not born. He has never not existed. Jesus created all things. He formed every atom and every galaxy and everything in-between, including you and me. Jesus is before all things. He precedes every event in human history, either causing them to happen or allowing. He is never surprised, never caught off guard. Jesus holds all things together. He is not only creator of all things but their sustainer. The sun rotates on His command. Jesus is the head of the body, the church. He resurrects the elect, securing their blood-bought path to glory.
The answer to the question is clear: Jesus is the sovereign force of the universe. He is peerless. His sameness has no match.
The same Savior who providentially forgave Peter for his denials providentially forgives us of ours. The same Savior who providentially superintended Paul’s walk providentially superintends ours. The same Savior who providentially pursued the Samaritan woman at the well, and all of her baggage, providentially pursues us and ours.
But there’s an even more important question to be answered: why is Jesus who He is? Paul tells us that too. Jesus is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. The Savior is preeminent over all things so that He would be the preeminent affection of our hearts. He exists to be glorified above all else. He exists to be made much of above all else. He exists to be adored above all else.
Jesus will forever be the same. May His reigning immutability cause us to fall at the foot of the cross and praise Him. He is the better sameness.
Greg Grotewold lives in Oakdale, Minn. with his wife, Sandi, and their two sons, Luke and Eli. He is a deacon in his local church and greatly enjoys serving in this capacity.
