The ancient Irish are famous for their dedicated monastic tradition and incredible missionary impact throughout all of northern Europe. No doubt they would often quote Patrick their spiritual father:
"Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me, Christ in the eye of every one who sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me." (The Lorica, Attrib: Patrick of Ireland)
On one of the worship teams I used to be part of we would sing:
"You're the center of the Universe; everything was made for You... Oh Christ, be the Center of our lives. Be the place we fix our eyes." (Charlie Hall)
Paul the Apostle gave Jesus a central place in theology:
"He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him [Jesus] 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 [Jesus] is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church. He [Jesus] is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he [Jesus] might be preeminent." (Col 1:15-18)
Jesus himself taught in several places that he was the focus throughout OT Scripture. (Jn 5:39-40,46, Lk 24:25-27,44-45). Really, it begins to look that Jesus--his person and work--is the primary theme of the whole Bible:
"And he said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into is glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Lk 24:25-27)Paul also taught that in all we do, we ought to see nothing less than Jesus as the end:
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Col 3:23-24)
One question asked often at my Seminary is "How do we make the Bible the functional authority in life and ministry?" Perhaps another (and superseding) question should be "How do we make Jesus the functional center of all aspects of our lives?"
It is a question I ask with trepidation and yet anticipation. So often my own worship, my intellectual pursuits, my Bible reading, my work, my relationships, my ministry to others, my recreation--so many places I fall short in centralizing Jesus. Not centralizing Jesus and thereby giving him less worship than he is due--this is without doubt the greatest sin of omission. Yet finding him and recognizing him as the center is also the greatest opportunity in life! God forgive me where I lack and draw my heart towards you!
Is it possible that even a post like this is in danger of drawing our focus away from the actual person Jesus and instead into musing on a concept of his centrality? I don't know. Let us continue with that caution.
15 iHe is the image of jthe invisible God, kthe firstborn of all creation. 16 For by6 him all things were created, lin heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether mthrones or ndominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created othrough him and for him. 17 And phe is before all things, and in him all things qhold together. 18 And rhe is the head of the body, the church. He is sthe beginning, tthe firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For uin him all the vfullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and wthrough him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, xmaking peace yby the blood of his cross.
The point is that Jesus needs be at the center. Encountering Jesus in historical narrative, in personal relationship, in prayer and meditation, in community fellowship, in corporate worship, in nature, in holy communion, in service to others--there is deep purpose and benefit in all this. We are not striving to become some crazed hippie-looking "Jesus freak" who can [like] only talk about how [like] awesome Jesus is. No, I'm not advocating anything that would appear fake or feel unnatural. (Although, its true you don't really know where centering on Jesus will ultimately take you...) Encountering the person of Jesus is encountering God Himself. Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Perhaps that is part of why He has a type of preeminence, even in the Trinity (Col 1:18, Phil 2:9). Of all the persons of the Trinity, we humans can identify with Jesus the most--he is, after all, human as well as divine. The fact that we have a flesh and blood historical God-man Jesus somehow makes it easier to identify with him--to trust him, and to center our lives in him.
If Jesus unequivocally IS the center of all things, I wager that our lives will feel un-centered and confused until we make him the functional center in our lives. Whatever we struggle with or wherever we go or spend our time--let us seek to know Jesus in each of these endeavors. At work, at home, at church, at play--Jesus wants to become our center. In the midst of great suffering, life can only continue to make sense in the context of his cross. Only as we center on him, will we experience real contentment or fulfillment.
Lord Jesus, You are the center. We humbly acknowledge your central place in all things and we ask You to draw us and help us that we may ever more focus our heart, soul, mind, and strength on You.
