When Paul was writing to the Church at Colossae, he was writing to warn them against syncretism. Syncretism is a fancy word for a blending of beliefs. Many of these new Christians came from different belief sets and background.¹ Unfortunately, they were hanging onto some of the beliefs they had before Jesus and mixing them all together, giving a wishy-washy form of Christianity that lacked truth.

In order to fight these misguided beliefs, Paul begins his letter to the Colossians by reminding them that Jesus is supreme. He is the highest. He alone is to be worshiped because he is the image of the invisible God (1:15). This means that the exact being and nature of God is seen in Jesus. He is the firstborn over all creation– this doesn’t mean that he was born first (John 1 says that Jesus was there from the beginning), but that he is firstborn as the rightful heir.² He is also firstborn from the dead, meaning that he was the first to rise, but won’t be the last.

See, we can find peace with God through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. When we recognize him as Savior and Lord, we become coheirs with him. Someday, all who believe in him as Lord will rise to eternal life with him.

This is Christianity. And this is what Paul wants to remind the Colossian church and us. Jesus is supreme. He is fully God and fully man, and he bore our sins on the cross so we who believe can inherit eternal life. In John 14:9, Jesus tells his disciples if they have seen him, they have seen the Father. Let’s do an experiment to remind us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God.

Experiment

What you’ll need:

• 1 TB baking soda
• 1 TB water
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 3 TB rubbing alcohol
• 2 bowls
• Cardstock paper
• Q-tips
• Paintbrush (optional)

What you’ll do:

• Mix together the baking soda and water
• Wet a Q-tip (but not too much!) and write Jesus on the cardstock
• Allow to dry completely
• Brush off any extra baking soda residue
• Mix the turmeric and rubbing alcohol
• Paint over your entire paper to reveal what was invisible

What’s the science?

• Baking soda is basic or alkaline
• Turmeric changes color based on if it is in an alkaline or acidic environment
• Because the baking soda is basic, it turns the turmeric from yellow to red, revealing the message

How can it apply to my life?

Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He is God revealed! And he came to reveal himself to us and to make us a way back to the Father by his death and resurrection. This changed everything! Now, all who trust in him, believing he has paid for their sins by his death on the cross, all who confess, and live their lives in surrender to him as Lord, will be among those who live forever with him. Have you made this decision yet? What’s keeping you from it?

Dig Deeper

If you want to know more about Paul’s letter to the Colossian church, check out my free book Rooted and Built Up. This Kid’s Companion can be read by middle schoolers or read aloud by parents to younger students during family devotion time. Meant to be read alongside Colossians, this book goes section by section and chapter by chapter, explaining Paul’s letter and applying it to young learners.

If you’d like more free STEAM lesson plans for your homeschool or Sunday School, check out my Lesson Plans page.

References

Arnold, Clinton E., et al. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan, 2007. Print. Page 375.

Garland, David E. The NIV Application Commentary: Colossians and Philemon. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan, 1998. Print. Page 87.