The Colossian Hymn revisited

A couple of weeks ago Colossians 1:15-20 came up in the Lectionary. This reading is thought by most to be an early Christian hymn, celebrating who Jesus is for the world and for the church, what he has done and what he is doing. Having been part of the Church my entire life, it struck me as odd that I had never sung this hymn before. So I set about putting it to music, although I didn’t finish it in time for Sunday (again, apologies Stu!)

However, now I have. Primarily I used the Message paraphrase, as it helped to unlock some very rich concepts and give me fresh insights on these beautiful truths. Here is how Eugene Peterson renders the passage in the Message:

Christ Holds It All Together

15-18 We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.

18-20 He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.

Cool huh? Anyway, so here’s the song I wrote based on this passage. The lyrics are posted below. Perhaps you’ve been reading these words all your life, but never sung them either. How do you reckon I’ve done? I’d love to hear your feedback.

The Colossian Hymn
Colossians 1:15-21
By Malcolm Gordon

We look to Jesus, seeing God who can’t be seen
We look to Jesus, seeing life as it should be

We look to Jesus, in whom everything began
For in this Jesus, we all find a place to stand

Life began in you
Lord of all, you hold us true
All the world is home in your hands
Life is found in you
All that’s broken will be new
Heaven’s heart lies open to us now

We look to Jesus, seeing God in purest grace
We look to Jesus, where we find our truest place

We look to Jesus, leading us beyond the grave
For in this Jesus, all creation can be saved

Life began in you
Lord of all, you hold us true
All the world is home in your hands
Life is found in you
All that’s broken will be new
Heaven’s heart lies open to us now

You are reconciling
Making peace through your blood
You’re the new beginning for this world
Heaven and earth are brimming
With the life that you bring
You’re the morning star that lights the way