20God* put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:20-22
Two days ago I had the remarkable experience of walking across the Mississippi River. You read that right! Yes, I walked all the way across the Mississippi River, from one side to the other, and I didn’t even get wet! It happened as Rita and I were in northwestern Minnesota where the mighty Mississippi River begins its flow.
Explorers had long searched for the true headwaters of the Mississippi River but it wasn’t until 1832 that Henry Schoolcraft discovered the river’s true source, and named it “Itasca,” which was his conflation of the Latin veritas (truth) and caput (caput) meaning, “true head.”
It was there at Itasca, the mighty river’s “true head” that I was able to step rock to rock from one side of the headwaters to the other. Then having crossed over I stood for a few moments watching little children play in waters a few inches deep. In my mind’s eye I tried to imagine this “true head” flowing and overflowing through ten states, for 2,340 miles, all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. As I savored the moment of creation, I thought of our “true head,” Jesus Christ , whose very life flows and overflows to fill all things.
In today’s text the Apostle Paul discovers in Christ our “true head.” He traces all life and blessing back to its source in the triumphant, overpowering life of Christ Jesus. It is interesting that in describing Christ as “the head over all,” Paul uses a Greek word (kephale) that denotes a river’s “head,” or “source.” (By the way, the Latin translators of this text used the same word caput that Schoolcraft had used of the “true head” of the Mississippi.)
From the risen Christ’s exalted throne there flows and overflows life and power that is far above “all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.” Christ’s resurrection life and power will not be defeated, will not be denied. Like the “ole’ man river” Mississippi, his power and grace “just keeps rolling along.”
Lord Acton warned that “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” But here is absolute power that blesses and enriches. Here is power expended only for the good of others. Christ has been made “the head over all things for the church. It is for our advantage and good that Christ reigns the “true head” over all!
Christ longs to show himself powerful in your life. He wants to be your souce today!
Grace and Peace that keeps rolling along,
Tim Smith
Weekly Bible Classes with Tim Smith
At the Franciscan Renewal Center
(Garces Room of Piper Hall)Wednesday Noon – 1:00 P.M.
Wednesday Evening 7:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
