The Man in Charge

Matthew 28:18 says that Jesus came to his disciples and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” This is a universe-altering statement that may be easy to miss the significance of.

Here's the issue: as Christians with good and proper theology, we embrace the divinity of Jesus. We know that Jesus is both God and man: truly human and truly divine. We may not be able to fully explain it, but we wholeheartedly believe it because the Bible teaches it. With this understanding, we read Jesus’ statement to his disciples as nothing new. We think, “Of course Jesus has all authority. Jesus is God.” But is that all that Jesus is saying? 

It is true that the eternal Son of God has always had divine authority. But it is also true that when Jesus says that this authority “has been given” to him, he is speaking of something different from what has always been. Jesus is not simply stating an obvious fact that is indicative of his divinity. Jesus is proclaiming a new reality that has been inaugurated on the basis of what he accomplished in his life, death, and resurrection. 

From eternity past, the Son of God held divine authority. But now, that authority is held by Jesus, the God-man. When this authority was given to Jesus the unimaginable became reality – a human being became the king of the universe. This is the significance in Matthew 28:18 that we might miss! Yes, Jesus is truly God, and his authority is an unsurprising implication of that divinity. But don’t miss the fact that Jesus is also truly man and all authority in heaven and on earth is now held by one who is like us.

Pay attention to how these verses from Hebrews connect the efficacy of Jesus’ ministry to the reality of his humanity: 

·      For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)

·      For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15–16)

·      Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. (Hebrews 5:8–9)

Because the Son of God became like us, he knows our suffering, weakness, and temptation. Because of the authority given to the resurrected Jesus, he is able to help us, save us, and offer mercy and grace to us as God who is one of us. 

So, Christian, don’t miss the significance of who it is that has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Yes, Jesus is God. But Jesus is also human, like us. We are not commissioned to tell the world about some transcendent being who is disconnected and unconcerned with the brokenness of life. We represent the God who entered into that brokenness and took it all upon himself so that we could be rescued from it. This is the one who is now seated at the right hand of God and sends us out promising to be with us, always.

~ Andy Barker grew up in Boston, Ma. and relocated to Charlotte in 2008. He currently serves as an elder at LIFE Fellowship. He and his wife Melanie have five children and have attended LIFE Fellowship for ten years.