The AUTHORITY / DOMINION / POWER of JESUS

The AUTHORITY / DOMINION / POWER of JESUS

Genesis 1:28 – “God blessed them and said to them ... ‘Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the Earth.’” [JHK Note: God gives two blessings to the fish, birds, and animals, but gives three blessings to His children, this third blessing being dominion over all other things in creation; but such a blessing is so powerful, that it is not to be used as a toy or plaything! Eve and Adam failed to attain such mastery, because they failed to obey God’s commands, thus failing to fully mature mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Adam knew, but did not do, God’s Will. Jesus, on the other hand, succeeded where Adam failed and was, indeed, the perfected Son of God and thus the substantial God, God in the flesh, having the same heart, mind, and spirit as God. The unity of the Father and Son is absolute. As Jesus says clearly in John 14:9-10-11 – “He who has seen Me has seen the Father. ... I am in the Father and the Father in Me. ... the Father who dwells in Me.” Therefore, Jesus attained the qualification of “dominion.”]

John 21:1-14 shows Jesus’s dominion over the fish of the sea. In John 17:2, Jesus declares that God has indeed “given Him authority over all flesh.” Consequently, Jesus has the power of healing all sorts of infirmities, such as blindness (John 9:1-12), paralysis (Matthew 9:1-13), women’s problems (Luke 8:40-56), and the man afflicted for 38 years (John 5:1-15). That He has power over all things in nature is shown in His supernatural ability to calm the raging storm (Matthew 8:23-26), feed thousands of people and walk on the water (John 6:1-21), as well as in His first recorded miracle of turning water into wine in John 2:1-11.

Jesus knows their thoughts, confounds his opponents, and speaks with authority. Matt 12:1-14 (Lord of Sabbath) Matt 12:38-42 & 16:1-4 (Greater than Jonah & Solomon) Matt 15 1-9 (Tradition & Ritual) Matt 19:2-12 (Marriage & Divorce) Matt 21:23-27 (Authority) Matt 22:15-22 (Taxes) Matt 22:41-46 (How can Messiah be David’s son AND David’s Lord?) Mark 11:27-33 (Whence John’s authority?) No one dares question him after this. (Mark 12:34) The crowds listen to Jesus with delight. (Mark 12:37) Jesus teaches with authority, not like the Scribes & Pharisees. (Matt 7:28-29 &  Luke 4:32)

Consider the magnitude of Jesus’s authority: “As the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” This power to execute judgment is confirmed in John’s account of “The Great White Throne Judgment” in Revelation 20:1-15 and 21:5-8, for the throne is that of God and the Lamb (22:1 & 3).

Jesus has power over death, as is clear from the raising of Lazarus in John 11, where Jesus declares in 11:25-26 – “I am the resurrection and the life! ... And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” But He also has power over his own life, as He says in John 10:11-18 – “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. ... I lay down My life for the sheep. ... I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command (authority) I have received from My Father.” * In John 19:10-11, Jesus corrects Pontius Pilate, who mistakenly believes he alone has the power to crucify or release Jesus.

“All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on Earth,” declares Jesus in what we term “The Great Commission” found in Matthew 28:18-20. [JHK Note: Understanding this is critically important, because we humans exist is two dimensions – the spiritual and the physical – and Jesus as God’s perfected Son (True Son) has dominion over the angels and demons in the spiritual realm as well as dominion over all flesh and created things in the physical realm.] He casts out demons (Matthew 8:28-34 & 17:14-21) and gives authority to his disciples to cast out demons (Mark 6:7). He appears to Peter, James, and John in His spiritual body even before His death and resurrection when He is transfigured before them in Matt 17:1-13. Jesus did not have to die for sins to be forgiven, for “the Son of Man has power on Earth to forgive sins.” (Matt 9:1-13 & Luke 5:17-26)