“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.’” — John 17:1-2 (ESV)
John 17:1-2 (ESV) marks the beginning of one of the most powerful passages in all of Scripture. Jesus prays to the Father and says, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.” Jesus knows that His time on the earth is coming to a close. He knows that He must sacrifice His life so that the door to restored relationship with the Father would be flung open to all who would put their faith in Him.
What good news it is that the Father has given the Son “authority over all flesh.” You and I serve the one true King of all mankind. Jesus is King of all the earth. And our King is one who would ask the Father to send Him to die that we might live. Our King willfully lays down His life for us who have done nothing to deserve His kindness. Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV) says:
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
And later Paul writes in Colossians 2:13-15 (ESV), “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”
What does it mean for us today to serve the High King in whom all authority and kindness dwells? What would life look like if we would submit ourselves to His authority completely? All of creation answers to His name. All of humanity will one day bow before Him. But what would your life look like if you made the decision today to willfully lay down your life in response to His Lordship? What would it look like to crown Him as King of your plans, efforts, emotions, relationships, finances, past, present and future? You were not created to be the king of your own life. You were not created to bear the burden of doing life apart from the Lordship of Jesus Christ. And you will never know true peace, joy, purpose and love until you submit all you are to all God is.
Take time in prayer to meditate on the authority and power of Jesus. Thank Him for His loving sacrifice and crown Him King of your life today.
— Craig Denison, First 15
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