Jesus – Three Minute Bible

January 22, 2025January 21, 2025

Colossians 2:23d – The Fourth Clue

Picture of Sherlock Holmes character looking at a clue.

… and their harsh treatment of the body …

Summary: Paul completes his list of examples of the characteristics of worldly rules.

So far, Paul has given us three clues to help us recognize worldly religious “rules.”

The first clue was that a religious rule would have the “appearance of wisdom.” This, we decided, would look like wisdom, but it would not be rooted in the fear of the Lord. By the same token, real wisdom brings with it knowledge and understanding. False wisdom, on the other hand, does not satisfy the intellect. Finally, real wisdom is “pleasant to your soul,” while the other kind leaves a bitter taste.

The second clue has to do with its influence on our worship of God. Like wisdom, true worship is rooted in God: specifically the love of God. Worldly religious rules do not generate true worship. Instead, the world’s rules rely on “self-imposed worship.”

The third clue points us to the kind of humility we see in those who promote the rules. The humility of Jesus testified to the authenticity of his message. The one who demands worldly rules relies on a fake, or “false humility.”

Finally, we arrive at the fourth clue. Paul tells us that worldly rules demand “harsh treatment of the body.”

What does this mean?

In one story about Jesus and his disciples, Jesus is asked why his disciples don’t fast like the Pharisees (Mark 2:18-20). Denying the body food, of course, is “harsh treatment of the body.”

Jesus replies:

“How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.” (Mark 2:19-20)

In this simple statement, Jesus explains the difference between a religious fast and one motivated by our relationship with God.

God, himself, tells us this when he speaks through the prophet Hosea and says, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6)

Application: Take Paul’s clues to heart.

Food for Thought: How is the harsh treatment of the body connected to feeling self-righteous?

Please click ‘’Continue Reading” for comments.

January 16, 2025January 16, 2025

Colossians 2:20c-21 – Rules About Rules

Picture of sign that reads "NO JUMPING OFF BRIDGE"

… why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”?

Summary: Understanding Paul’s writings often requires an understanding of the world Paul is writing about. We call this “context,” but even that concept has limits. Because God’s thoughts are higher than our own (Isaiah 55:9) we have to stretch our minds to try and understand God’s.

Reading this passage without context is dangerous! It is very easy to look at Paul’s words and come away with the idea that Christians don’t have to follow any rules. Like most words in the English language, the word “rule” has many applications.

Paul is not talking about the “rules of the road.” Christians don’t get a free pass to ignore speed limits or drive toward oncoming traffic. We don’t get a “pass” when we go the wrong way on a “one way street.” Christians, like everyone else in the world, still have to follow the traffic rules.

January 13, 2025January 13, 2025

Colossians 2:19b – In Search of a Body

A crowd of people in the style of a stained glass window. Each person is depicted with an aura around their head.

… from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

Summary: The body Paul describes can seem elusive in a world marked by divisions in the church. Exploring the concept in more detail leads us to a place of hope and introspection.

Paul raises a very interesting question in this passage: Does the body grow from the head?

It seems like a silly thought, but then I’ve never seen how the body of a human (or anything else) begins life. The miracle of life always begins hidden away from sight.

However, if we use the body as a metaphor for an organization, then yes, it begins with the head. Jesus is not only the “head” of the church, he is also the heart and the soul.

January 10, 2025January 10, 2025

Colossians 2:18d – The Blind Tour Guide

… they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.

Summary: In this passage, Paul returns to the basic principle of spiritual life: We have to be born again by the power of Jesus Christ to have any hope of understanding spiritual things.

As we begin this meditation, we should review where we are.

Most of chapter two has been about the dangers of false teachings. Paul wants us to remain focused on the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and not be distracted by anything.

January 8, 2025January 8, 2025

Colossians 2:18b – Detour

[Do not let] … the worship of angels disqualify you.

Old road/running trail marked by a sign that reads "Detour."

Summary: This passage is a lot deeper than it looks. As we dive into the topic we discover surprising truths about the spiritual realm and about our own hope for salvation.

As we look at this passage, several questions come to mind.

Why would anyone promote the idea of worshiping angels?
What does the Bible say about worshiping angels?
What does Paul mean by being disqualified?

The first question is impossible to answer because we can’t go back and ask whoever was doing it. Even if we could, the answer we got from them might not be the truth. We can guess, but it is only a guess, and in the end, it doesn’t really matter.

January 6, 2025January 7, 2025

Colossians 2:17 – Things to Come

These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Summary: God’s Word is full of surprises. Paul’s use of the word “shadow” offers a unique insight into the relationship between the Old Testament and the New.

“A shadow of things to come” is an evocative phrase. Oddly, it is also evasive. The “shadow” is a real thing, but it does not have any real value.

When Paul says we are not to let anyone judge us by what we eat or drink or whether or not we follow the old customs of Jewish festivals and Sabbath days (verse 16), he is pointing to the “shadow.”

January 4, 2025January 5, 2025

Colossians 2:16b – The Risk of Rules

… by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

young man sitting in church, wearing a hat, drinking coffee and sporting tattoos.

Summary: In this passage, Paul gives us a rule about rules.

Let’s review the entire verse before we start our meditation:

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.”

Paul begins with “Therefore…” referring to his prior statement that God made us “alive in Christ” (Col 2:13) and has canceled our “legal indebtedness” (Col 2:14) by means of the cross, “do not let anyone judge you by legalistic requirements.“

This is not a mysterious statement or a confusing metaphor. Paul is speaking as plainly as humanly possible here. There is no chance that anyone would or could misunderstand his point.

Except we do.

January 3, 2025January 3, 2025

Colossians 2:16a – Only Jesus

Therefore do not let anyone judge you …

Summary: Paul continues to explain what it means to be a believer in Jesus. Human rules count for nothing. All that matters is faith in our Savior.

As I sat down to write this meditation, I was debating with myself about whether or not I should tackle the whole verse. The more I stared at it, the more the first seven words cried out for special attention. So … before you judge me, know that I at least thought about including the whole verses before I chopped it up.

When Paul says, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you …” I tend to think to myself, “Yeah, right.” How does Paul expect us to stop people from judging us? On top of this is a larger question: How is the church supposed to function if people are not to judge?

January 1, 2025January 1, 2025

Colossians 2:15a – Standing With Jesus

And having disarmed the powers and authorities …

Summary: Understanding Paul’s reference to “powers and authorities” requires that we understand the difference between the spirit and the flesh.

I find this particular passage very intriguing. In the context of the larger passage, Paul has just stated that Jesus took our “legal indebtedness” and nailed it to the cross. Then he turns around and says that, by doing that, he has “disarmed the powers and authorities…”

Who is he talking about?

He didn’t disarm the Romans. The Pharisees and Sadducees were still in power when Jesus died. Who did Jesus “disarm”?

December 27, 2024December 27, 2024

Colossians 2:13a – The Greatest Gift

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.

Summary: Paul, himself, provides the summary for this meditation. In fact, this passage summarizes the entire Bible!

In this passage, Paul captures the heart of the entire Bible.

•   Genesis chapters 1–3 describe how we became “dead” in our sins.
•   Genesis 4 through the end of the Old Testament (Malachi 4) describe the uncircumcised life of the flesh.
•   The New Testament is all about God making us alive with Christ.