The Firstborn Over All Creation

Cheri Spiegel
Colossians 1:15

I, like Jacob, was not the eldest sibling in my household. As the second-born, it’s an interesting experience to read of the births of Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25:19–28) right before reading Colossians 1:15. Really, Paul, a birth order analogy to situate the authority of the Son of God?

In some ways thinking about Christ as the firstborn is perfect for how I grew up thinking of my relationship to Jesus. I’d compare myself to the image of Jesus and, in the kinder moments, see myself as the gangly little sister. In my less kind moments, I focus deeply on my perceived imperfections. When I compare myself to Jesus, as the golden child of God, it’s easy to focus mostly on an unrealistic standard I will never match.

Comparison is tricky business. Is it a place from which joy can ever flow? If the Son of God is the firstborn in all creation, what does that make us?

Well, let’s think more about our biblical siblings, Esau and Jacob, in their youth. Esau was woodsy and clicked with his dad. Jacob was more introverted and got along especially well with his mom. These kids grow up to be complicated people with complex relationships with one another and their parents.

One was born first. One was born second. Both were unique. Both are flawed in the way humans are. And both were beloved within their family.

Colossians goes on to say this of Christ: “And he 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.”

Christ is not the whole body. Christ is not the whole story. Christ is the firstborn in all creation.

We are born after. We share a part in the beloved creation.

I’ll say it again: we are not the firstborn, but we are beloved. No matter the moment we enter the story, we have an important part to play. We all share in the story of God’s creation. We were all born, beloved into our moment.