Sovereign over All

Jesus has reigned as the sole sovereign over the Earth and Cosmos since his death, resurrection, and ascension. Already he sits on the Messianic Throne of David reigning from “Mount Zion.” Because of his obedience “unto death,” God installed him as the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth.” Before his ascension, Jesus declared that God had granted him all authority in Heaven and on Earth, and his sovereignty is without limits - - (Matthew 28:18-20).

In Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of Man is?” Peter declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” However, his brief epiphany vanished once the Lord explained what this calling meant.

[Photo by Richard Lee on Unsplash]

To be the Messiah, Jesus went “to Jerusalem and suffered many things of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and was killed,” though God did resurrect him on the third day. Before exaltation and kingship, he needed to serve as the Suffering Servant of Yahweh - (Matthew 16:13-28, Isaiah 53:1-12).

Before his enthronement, he suffered unjustly at the hands of unrighteous men, including the priestly authorities of Jerusalem and the representative of the World Empire, namely, Rome.

Both then and now, Jesus summons his disciples to follow his path by denying themselves and “taking up the cross” daily in obedience and self-sacrificial service for his Kingdom. Discipleship often includes unjust suffering for him as well as proclaiming his message to others. This is how his disciples participate in his present reign.

Jesus promised that some of his disciples would not die until they saw the “Son of man coming in his Kingdom,” a clause that alluded to a vision in the Book of Daniel that portrayed the receipt of the Kingdom by this figure:

• “I continued looking in the visions of the night, when, behold, with the clouds of the heavens, one like a son of man was coming, and to the Ancient of days he approached, and before him, they brought him near; and to him were given dominion and dignity and kingship, that all peoples, races, and tongues unto him should do service, his dominion was an everlasting dominion ” – (Daniel 7:13-14).

However, it was only after his death and resurrection that Jesus announced his receipt of “all authority in Heaven and on Earth,” authority he attained through suffering and death, not despite them.

Now, as the resurrected Messiah who died for his people, he possesses this all-encompassing sovereignty both in heaven and on the earth. His declaration also echoed the Messianic prophecy of the Second Psalm:

• (Psalm 2:7-8) – “Let me tell of a decree, Yahweh said to me, You are my son. I, this day, have begotten you. Ask of me and let me give nations as your inheritance, and as your possession, the ends of the earth.”

LORD OVER ALL

His possession of absolute authority is why Jesus now sends his disciples to proclaim the Gospel and his sovereignty to all THE nations, even to the “ends of the Earth.” Because of his faithfulness even “unto death,” God raised him from the dead and made him “both Messiah and Lord” – (Acts 2:36, Ephesians 1:20-22).

His followers are his envoys who proclaim his Lordship over and Salvation for humanity. All men are called to submit to him while time remains before the coming judgment of the nations. All who do so receive the forgiveness of sins and become members of his priestly kingdom - (Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 1:5-6).

Jesus is the one true “Emperor” who reigns over the Earth rather than Caesar or any other pretender to divine sovereignty, including kings, princes, dictators, legislative bodies, prime ministers, and presidents.

[Photo by Xavier von Erlach on Unsplash]

He is the “Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes,” an image that points to his complete power and knowledge. He is not waiting to receive sovereignty at some future date, and there is nothing that is beyond his reach now, including “Death and Hades” – (Revelation 1:18).

Anyone who rejects the Gospel announced by Jesus and his heralds defies his sovereignty and gives his or her allegiance to the “nations that rage” against Yahweh and His Messiah, and especially to the “Dragon” and his earthly representative, the “Beast from the Sea” - (Psalm 2:1-2, Revelation 13:1-18).

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RELATED POSTS:

• Why do the Nations Rage? - (The conspiracy by the earth’s kings to unseat God’s Son is applied by the New Testament to the plot to destroy Jesus – Psalm 2:1-6)

• Shepherd of the Nations - (Jesus is the promised King from the line of David who is shepherding the nations to redemption and residency in New Jerusalem – Revelation 12:5)

• Ruler of Kings - (The faithful witness, Jesus, now reigns supreme over the Kings of the Earth and even over his enemies, and he is shepherding the nations)