He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 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 and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.** Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV)**
The comforts for believers in Christ stream as a steady fountain when we consider all the excellencies of Jesus. He is supreme in every way - being unmingled pure, good, pleasing and perfect. This brings forth much peace and comfort for His beleaguered followers. He is also the believers happiness, joy, peace, greatest satisfaction and rest. Indeed, He is our greatest comfort. It is never Jesus plus something else. It is simply just Jesus. Christ is our faithful Mediator as well, being both gentle and patient towards His own under all our provocations and our falls into sins.
The Apostle John writes in John 17:1-5 (NIV): “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” John 17:1-5 (NIV).
The world is but a shadow in comparison to Jesus’ substance. He is the door that opens heaven for mere mortals as we. It is eternal life to trust in Christ. He is both boundless and bottomless, being total perfection and able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or imagine. Flawed flesh cannot perform any eternal duty apart from His work in our lives. All our works are as filthy rags in and of themselves yet the study of our Christ is the most noble subject a soul ever spent itself on. Paul writes of Him in Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV): For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Indeed, Jesus is the door that opens heaven for those who believe in Him. We can perform no eternal duty, enjoy no eternal comfort nor can we be even saved from the ravages of Hell without Him – Who sacrificed His perfect blood to save our imperfect souls.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”** Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV)**