THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS (2 OF 5)
by Roger Thomas
Scripture: MATTHEW 28:18
This content is part of a series.
The Lordship of Jesus (2 of 5)
Series: A Great Commission Church
Roger Thomas
Matthew 28:18
That's quite a statement. Think about it a minute. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." The statement leaves no room for debate. It is not "I feel" or "I think." It isn't "most opinion polls say." It isn't "might be." It is a straightforward statement.
Consider the scope of the claim. All authority! Not some or most! All! All authority in heaven and on earth! Not just heaven but heaven and earth. The expression means everything and every place. One writer puts it this way, "There is not one square inch of the entire creation about which Jesus Christ does not cry out, "This is mine! This belongs to me!" (Richard J. Mouw, Uncommon Decency, pp. 146-147)
He isn't just claiming personal or private authority. All authority. Not just authority in church. Or just authority in religious matters. "All authority has been given to me in heaven and in earth." Jesus claims to be the top dog, the boss, the one who has the right to call the shots! To use more traditional language, he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. That's quite a claim. Either he is or he isn't. He leaves no room for compromise.
I am reminded of the story that Max Lucado tells in one of his books. Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. Patchy fog made for poor visibility. The captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities. Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, "Light, bearing on the starboard bow." "Is it steady or moving astern?" the captain called out. The lookout replied, "Steady, Captain." That meant the ship was on a collision course with the other vessel.
The captain called to the signalman, "Signal that ship: 'We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.'" Moments later a signal came back, "Advise you to ...
Series: A Great Commission Church
Roger Thomas
Matthew 28:18
That's quite a statement. Think about it a minute. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." The statement leaves no room for debate. It is not "I feel" or "I think." It isn't "most opinion polls say." It isn't "might be." It is a straightforward statement.
Consider the scope of the claim. All authority! Not some or most! All! All authority in heaven and on earth! Not just heaven but heaven and earth. The expression means everything and every place. One writer puts it this way, "There is not one square inch of the entire creation about which Jesus Christ does not cry out, "This is mine! This belongs to me!" (Richard J. Mouw, Uncommon Decency, pp. 146-147)
He isn't just claiming personal or private authority. All authority. Not just authority in church. Or just authority in religious matters. "All authority has been given to me in heaven and in earth." Jesus claims to be the top dog, the boss, the one who has the right to call the shots! To use more traditional language, he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. That's quite a claim. Either he is or he isn't. He leaves no room for compromise.
I am reminded of the story that Max Lucado tells in one of his books. Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. Patchy fog made for poor visibility. The captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities. Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, "Light, bearing on the starboard bow." "Is it steady or moving astern?" the captain called out. The lookout replied, "Steady, Captain." That meant the ship was on a collision course with the other vessel.
The captain called to the signalman, "Signal that ship: 'We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.'" Moments later a signal came back, "Advise you to ...
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