Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
The blessed truth that our Lord Jesus Christ is “the firstborn from the dead” is more evidence that He has “the preeminence” in all things. In this context, the term “firstborn” signifies that He is “the first…” in power, in authority, and position as God. Under the Old Testament Law Service, “the firstborn” was the head and owner of all that was the father’s; thus, the term “firstborn” is synonymous with the owner, the one in charge, and the one with the authority and power. In this context, our Lord Jesus Christ was “the firstborn from the dead”; that is, He had the authority and power to give His life, to raise His body to life again, and then to ascend into His Heaven in His Resurrected body. Paul also refers to Jesus Christ as “the firstfruits of them that slept” (I Corinthians 15:20) and John refers to Him as “the first begotten of the dead” (Revelation 1:5). Others were raised to life again; but, not of their own authority and power. Jesus Christ had full authority and power over His own Death and Resurrection which prophetically points to that glorious day in which He will exercise His authority and power over our dead bodies, when He Resurrects us from the dead and carries us to be forever with Him in His Heaven, in our Resurrected bodies. Therefore, as “the firstborn”, He has “the preeminence” over all things, including His dead body and our dead bodies. Let us take great comfort and rejoice in knowing that the cemetery is not our final resting place. Our Lord put it this way, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2) and “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). In this life, that is so often filled with troubles and pains and shame and sorrows, let us rejoice and take comfort in knowing that the Blessed Eternal Day is just ahead of us when we shall hear our beloved Savior Command, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34)!