The crucified Jesus was the power of God in weakness ending once and for all the reign of sin and death. Following this act of power in weakness the Father raised Jesus by the Spirit from death itself having destroyed death in him. He raised Jesus as the new man, indeed the new creation.   In the dying of Jesus the old is gone.  In the rising of Jesus the new has come. And in the new creation Jesus is the Son of God in power.  (Romans 1: 4)

Paul is full of wonder as he speaks of the mighty strength that the Father exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  Yes, the Father’s Son who became human is now the exalted Lord of all creation as human. For The Son of God who went down the lowest place in weakness is now exalted to the highest place in power.  And we are exalted with him as our lives are hidden with him in God.

By his once and for all death on the cross all things have been reconciled to God.  By his continuing rule, within creation, all things will reach their fulfilment according to God’s eternal purpose.  And that purpose is Jesus himself.  He is the first and last; the origin and the goal.