THE CURRENT REIGN OF JESUS -- Tomorrow:
(1 Corinthians 15:25)
POWER OVER ALL FLESH. "As Thou hast given Him power over ALL FLESH, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him" (John 17:2). There is no person, be he friend or foe, over whom Jesus does not have power -- ultimate and unquestionable authority. Jesus confessed this to His Father that dark night in Gethsemane. He also revealed WHY such power was given to Him. It was in order that He might "give eternal life" to all His Father gave to Him. Among other things, that reveals what a magnificent and extensive work is required to save us.
ALL POWER IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL POWER given unto Me in heaven and in earth" (Matt 28:18). There is no derived authority that is not in Christ's absolute control. Whether it is heavenly authority, or authority on earth, it has all been given to the Lord Jesus. It was in the context of that boundless power that He gave the commission to make disciples of all men, baptizing them into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
ALL THINGS GIVEN INTO HIS HAND. "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given ALL THINGS into His hand" (John 3:35). Here, "all things" pertain to the purpose of Almighty God. Everything that is required to fulfill that purpose to the finest detail, has been given into Christ's hand, to do what He wills. He will bring God's own purpose to its intended fulfillment.
ALL JUDGMENT COMMITTED TO THE SON. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed ALL JUDGMENT unto the Son" (John 5:22). Every mortal will be judged by the Lord Jesus. Because of this, the judgment will be just and merciful, for He Himself walked in this world, and suffered, being tempted (Heb 2:18). Those who live by faith in Him will be exonerated by Him in the day of judgment.
ALL THINGS DELIVERED INTO CHRIST'S HAND. "Jesus knowing that the Father had given ALL THINGS into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God" (John 13:3). Jesus submitted to death because of what He knew, as well as His desire to do the Father's will. He went to the death as One who was in charge of things, not as a helpless vassal. Thus, no man took His life from Him, but He voluntarily laid it down (IJohn 10:17-18).
ALL THINGS DELIVERED TO HIM. "ALL THINGS are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him" (Matt 11:27). Scripture here relates Christ's possession of "all things" to men coming to know the true God. The primary work of God is not the subduing of inimical powers, but the revelation of Himself to men through the indispensable ministry of His only begotten Son.
ONLY THE FATHER IS NOT SUBJECT TO CHRIST. "For He hath put ALL THINGS under His feet. But when He saith ALL THINGS are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put ALL THINGS under Him" (1 Cor 15:27). There is a solitary exception to the "all things" that have been put under Christ's authority. That is God Himself, who made everything subject to Him. Our salvation did not require that God the Father be subject to Christ. It DID require that everything else be under Him.
EVERYTHING PUT UNDER HIS FEET. "And hath put ALL THINGS under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over ALL THINGS to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all" (Eph 1:22-23). The meaning of this text is NOT that Jesus is the Head over the church, although that is declared elsewhere (Col 1:18). This text proclaims that Jesus has been given TO the church as One who is head over everything. For this reason, He can give to the church what it requires, lead it where it needs to go, and subdue its enemies.
SPIRITUAL POWERS SUBJECT TO HIM. "Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; ANGELS AND AUTHORITIES AND POWERS being made subject unto Him" (1 Pet 3:22). The realms of exalted spirits are all subject to Christ. Whether they are seraphs, cherubim, and angels, or the devil, principalities, and demons -- they are all subject to the Lord Jesus. He can rebuke the hoards of darkness, not allowing them to do their evil work. He can marshal holy angels, charging them to minister to the saints. They are all subject to Him.
And now, dear child of God, what possible reason can you have for not being full of confidence and good hope? Your Lord is over all, and all things have been given to Him. He is fully capable of bringing you to glory (Heb 2:10), and keeping you from falling (Jude 24-25). You have no cause to fear the enemy, and every reason to be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Be of good cheer, pilgrim! Be of good cheer!
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You that salvation has not been left to chance, and that all things have been given into the hands of the Christ who has fulfilled Your will, and in whom I trust without shame.