A seat of authority

Jesus came as a man. Now, we know that men are below angels as far as rights privileges and abilities. We are not below them in regards to God’s love and affection. But Jesus, when he rose again, was above the angels. He took his place above them. 

He is the word of God became flesh. And by his great atonement, his great sacrifice, his great victory, his great satisfying of the Father’s will, he has been given the greatest inheritance in the universe: a seat of honor next to the Father of heaven and earth. The word had become a son. The son became a savior. He rescued us by his life. He now sits in a seat of honor. 

This is odd language for us today. We don’t often think in terms of kings and queens and ancient ruling principles. But we must get a hold of this truth: Jesus reigns forever. Imagine a Lord of the Rings setting—or, not that I condone the show, Game of Thrones. Imagine the kings and the throne and the authority those men wielded. Jesus wields that same power in reality. He reigns on high. He reigns over the nations. He reigns over the universe. There is nothing above him. There is no power above him. There’s nothing he can’t conquer. There’s nothing he can’t do. He is King of all. 

We know that Christ came in the incarnation. God became a man. Then the man, Jesus, lived a sinless life. I’m still believing for a sinless day. He lived a sinless life for thirty-three years. He overcame what we can’t overcome. He then gave us the spoils. He endured the human life and the temptation so we could become children of God. By overcoming sin, he gave us the gift of righteousness: our identity before the Father. He rules with the scepter of righteous. 

He is seated on a throne of authority. Jesus is always in a good mood. Looking at the pictures of Christ—especially the ones coming out of the Renaissance and the Reformation—you can’t find a smiling Jesus. He’s sober and down. Each image seems to say, “I’m the savior, it’s a lot of hard work.” Jesus has been anointed with a joy. He has joy in his nature. But he got extra joy. Picture him as a dancing, laughing, joyous Jesus. When you imagine him looking at you, imagine him laughing and smiling. He’s not frowning. He’s not disappointed.