2.1 Authority
2.1 Authority
© 2016 Christ Revealed Bible Institute
Authority
Our beginning task, in our study of the Kingdom, is to establish the reality of the new creation. The new is first personal and second corporate.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). So as to create in Himself one new man (Ephesians 2:14). Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away (Revelation 21:1).
In actuality, these are all speaking of the same thing; John’s vision is simply the gospel in another form.
God Creating
Next, let’s re-iterate God’s progression of creating.
1. God speaks a Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, sending that Word forth as the Pattern of what God intends.
2. The Word enters the darkness seeking for faith; when the Word finds faith, it enters into faith and begins duplicating its pattern in the one who hears.
3. The one who hears the Word must, by willingness of heart, allow that Word, the Lord Jesus, to share form with them, that is, the outworking of Gethsemane.
4. When God’s new creation is ready, the cover is taken off and the Father is revealed through knowledge, that is, through proof!
In the Beginning
The Word by which the first creation was spoken was: Let there be light. (Let Father become known by all.) The first chapter of John’s gospel lays out how that Word progressed from the Heart of God into the Word made flesh.
But the Scriptures are clear regarding a new creation. We know that the new creation must begin as Word, the speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. We know that this Word begins, that is, always comes out of the communion of Father and Son. We also know that the new creation begins on the Day of the Atonement, the walk of Christ through death into Life.
The Prayer That Births the Kingdom
On this reasoning I conclude that Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is the prayer, the communion, the very Words out from which all things of the New Creation proceed. John 17 is the prayer that births the Kingdom; be sure you have read the chapter before continuing.
For the purposes of study, we will divide this prayer into three sessions. In this session, we are looking at lines that establish the Covenant. Then, in the next session, we will look at the core of the new creation, centered around the words “that” and “one.” Finally, in the third session, we will look at the desire of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Two Terms
Now, the “New Creation” and the “Kingdom of God” are the same thing with only a slightly different emphasis. “New Creation” focuses on the outflow or unfolding of LIFE. “Kingdom” focuses on the ordering of LIFE flowing out. These two terms are not speaking of something different, just a slightly different way of talking about the same thing.
God, the revelation of Father, is as much the ordering of life among us as He is the source of that life flowing out. All connections between us are as much God Himself in Person as the One who is within each one of us. I cannot touch you except by and through God.
Positioning
In this lesson, we are positioning Jesus’ words beginning with His authority to speak them.
Now, at the end of chapter 14, Jesus says, “Arise, let us go from here.” Chapters 15 and 16, however, seem to continue as dinner conversation. Then, at the end of Chapter 16, Jesus says this: “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.” Jesus “tells us plainly” about the Father first by being the Father’s heart ripped wide open for all to see in the Walk of the Atonement, stumbling through death and into life.
Timing
17:1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come.”
It is apparent that Jesus and the disciples are now outside, walking towards Gethsemane. The time is just past midnight on the day we would call “April” 14, AD 29, the day that marks the Jubilee Passover as it ends at 6 PM. These words are spoken less than 3 hours before Gethsemane and less than 15 hours before Jesus’ death.
“Lifted up His eyes to heaven” is part of the figurative speaking. Heaven is all around us; heaven is earth’s spirit. You and I are as much a part of heaven right now as we are part of earth.
Authority to Give Life
Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give age-abiding life to as many as You have given Him.
These words take us right back into the Garden of Eden. God had given authority to subdue all things to Adam, confirmed by Hebrews 2:8, You have put all things in subjection under his feet. It was God’s intention for Adam to eat of the tree of life and thus to give life to all of his children, and to all of the shaping of the cosmos coming out of the tree of life.
Adam chose death, and death came upon all; thus God is doing creation take two, that is, take NEW.
No Glowing
Jesus bases His authority, however, on this fact. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
Even though glory will factor strongly in the final part of this prayer, we must define it here. The word glory has two definitions that are real and one that is not real.
The NOT-REAL definition is “glow or light emanating out.” Yes, that is the absurdity people think of when they think of “glory.” Jesus did not “glow,” yet John said, “We beheld His glory.”
Well Done
The first definition of glory is a job or task well done.
A number of years ago, a young woman was considered third in line to win the Olympic gold medal in ice skating. Her two opponents were far better than she. For that reason, as those two performed, she settled in her heart that she would not win. She determined simply to pour herself out without concern. She did not know, when she went out to skate, that both of her opponents had stumbled badly.
This young lady skated as few ever have. When she was finished, everyone in the stands rose to their feet in acclaim. I was at home in my living room; I rose to my feet and clapped as well, and I’m sure I was joined by millions. Her performance was GLORY.
Desiring Glory
When my children were young, I would often hear, “Daddy, Daddy, watch me.” And then they would jump out of a tree or ride their bike or whatever task they had set before themselves. What they desired with all their hearts to hear from me was, “Wow, that was awesome. You did really great.” They desired glory.
Every human longs for glory; every human is like God. God desires us to say, “Wow, God, You did really well.” That’s why He always says the same to us. Jesus was always saying, “Look at Father, He did all this.” God was always saying, “Look at Jesus, isn’t He awesome?”
Heart
But the Greek word, doxa, translated “glory,” has a deeper meaning as well. It means that which is desired most in the innermost citadels of the heart. What God desires most is to share heart with us; God desires Christ in and out from our hearts.
Glory is the capacity to put your arm around a hurting, lost, and confused individual in full compassion, BECAUSE you have been there, and then show them your heart, and the absence of all their fault inside your heart, the throne of God, and then to affirm to them that they also are loved, respected, and honored just as they find themselves to be.
This shared Heart, to God, is Glory.
Establishing Authority
Jesus establishes His authority to speak the new creation into existence on the basis of glory in both of its definitions. Jesus’ mission was to reveal Father, specifically, to show you and me what Father’s heart was all about.
Out from that mission were two specific tasks. His first task was to prepare Himself for the Walk of the Atonement as the Lamb of God; His second task was to prepare a people for the Day of Pentecost. Jesus executed both of those tasks perfectly, in a performance that has the entire universe standing to their feet in utter awe. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
Revealing Father
One more thing we must know about glory. Glory is NOT outward appearance. Glory is NOT glowing. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You.
Jesus was NOT speaking of a sense of “heavenly glowing,” yet that is how most define His words. – Childish. Jesus was speaking of one thing only – He, as a man, walking the Path of the Atonement, drawing all of creation into Himself in Gethsemane, you and me, and carrying all, step by stumbling step through death and into life. Jesus was speaking of revealing Father to creation AS HE IS. Life laid down and love poured out.
Present Work
Next we have a double picture regarding this authority Jesus has won for Himself.
You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give age-abiding life to as many as You have given Him. – But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:12-14).
Out from His victory, out from sitting down at the right hand of God, Jesus is doing two things. Jesus gives LIFE to those Father has given Him, and then He waits, expecting.
Authority to Speak
We do not imagine “sitting down at the right hand of God” as being something formed and located. God is all here now. Jesus, all here now, is Father becoming known inside of those who are knowing Father.
Jesus has the authority, because of His finished work, because of revealing Father’s Heart through the Atonement, to cause you and me to KNOW God. That is, Jesus has the authority to speak the new creation into existence, first, personal and one by one, and second corporate, a body of believers walking together as one. Jesus establishes this authority inside of both definitions of glory before He begins to speak that new creation.
Due Process of Law
Before going on in this study, let’s establish an essential element at the heart of the Kingdom, at the heart of Father just being Himself through us. PROOF.
God set forth His Word. That Word was challenged by accusation. God set this entire stage to PROVE His Word faithful and true.
Father is very just and strictly legal; He bases all of His doings on full legal proceedings. – Or should we say, an impartial court of law following due process of law reveals to us an essential element of God.
Proof
Thus it is essential to God that Jesus establish His authority to give LIFE to you and me on the basis of Glory, on the basis of Jesus having revealed Father as He is and on the basis of Jesus having won redemption for us.
You see, at the center of Jesus’ speaking the new creation into existence, are these words: that the world may know. – Proof! John 17 is the source; 1 Peter 1:7 is the PROOF made known.
That the PROOF of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is PROVEN by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory when the outward cover hiding Jesus Christ is removed (apocalypse).
Glory – job well done – Father revealed!