The Authority, Power and Glory of Jesus
His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. Revelation 19:12-14 (NLT)
The high priestly prayer found in John chapter seventeen is a powerful prayer that Jesus prayed for his disciples then and for us, His followers who came after them. His prayer opens with the declaration that His hour (John 17:1) has come. The hour that profoundly changed the course of history and our lives. The hour in which everything that had been prophesied about Him, everything that He told His disciples, collided. Everything about who He is – Saviour, Man of Sorrows, King of Kings, Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16), collided in that grand, but sorrowful moment when He died on the cross. This was the crowning of His authority, glory and power. This authority and glory is what the apostle John saw in his visions of heaven recorded in the book of Revelation.
The authority that Jesus has is a supreme authority that bestows eternal life upon those who heed His words and have accepted Him as the only One who can reveal to them the mystery of the Heavenly Father, the only true God (John 17:2-3).
When Jesus prays this high priestly prayer, He addresses God as His Father. He prays as One who knows the Father intimately. As One who has divine authority by appealing to God as His Son. In this way, Jesus reiterates His deity and His position in the Trinity as the Son of God. This gives Him the right to the Father’s glory and authority.
The Ancient of Days
Daniel saw the glory and authority of Jesus in a vision over 600 years before the hour Jesus spoke about had come. This is how Daniel describes Him:
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14 (ESV)
The son of man Daniel talks about is Jesus Christ, whom He calls the Ancient of Days, who existed before the world began. The Ancient of Days is given all authority, dominion and glory. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have the amazing privilege of having access to Jesus’ authority, glory and power here and now. We have access to His everlasting kingdom that shall not be destroyed. His everlasting kingdom that destroys the powers of darkness. His everlasting power that gives us peace in the midst of our storms (John 16:33), grace when our burdens are heavy (2 Corinthians 12:9), and hope that will not disappoint (Romans 5:5). What an awesome and mighty Saviour!
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18 (ESV)
Reflection
As you think about the challenges you are facing, look to Jesus, who has all the authority, power and glory and is more than able to intervene and break through in miraculous ways.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Ancient of Days. Thank You that I have access to Your power, glory and authority through Your death on the cross. Help me, Lord, to trust that You are able to intervene in my challenges and bring Your miraculous breakthrough. I lean not on my own understanding and wisdom, but on Your awesome power. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
