The Authority of King Jesus
12/2/2024 | Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer
As we dive deeply into the riches of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer this week, may your heart be awakened and your life be transformed by the riches of God’s love.
Introduction
We have a great High Priest who constantly intercedes on our behalf. The Son of God and Man loves you more deeply than you can fathom. He prays for you, that you might walk in the abundant life his death affords you. And in John 17 we get a glimpse into the fullness of his desire for all those who would believe in him. As we dive deeply into the riches of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer this week, may your heart be awakened and your life be transformed by the riches of God’s love.
Scripture
John 17:1-2 ESV
Devotional
John 17:1-2 marks the beginning of one of the most powerful passages in all of Scripture. Jesus prays to the Father and says, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.” Jesus knows that his time on the earth is coming to a close. He knows that he must sacrifice his life so that the door to restored relationship with the Father would be flung open to all who would put their faith in him.
What good news it is that the Father has given the Son “authority over all flesh.” You and I serve the one true King of all mankind. Jesus is King of all the earth. And our King is one who would ask the Father to send him to die that we might live. Our King willfully lays down his life for us who have done nothing to deserve his kindness. Colossians 1:15-20 says:
And later Paul writes in Colossians 2:13-15, “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”
What does it mean for us today to serve the High King in whom all authority and kindness dwells? What would life look like if we would submit ourselves to his authority completely? All of creation answers to his name. All of humanity will one day bow before him. But what would your life look like if you made the decision today to willfully lay down your life in response to his lordship? What would it look like to crown him as King of your plans, efforts, emotions, relationships, finances, past present, and future? You were not created to be the king of your own life. You were not created to bear the burden of doing life apart from the lordship of Jesus Christ. And you will never know true peace, joy, purpose, and love until you submit all you are to all God is.
Take time in guided prayer to meditate on the authority and power of Jesus. Thank him for his loving sacrifice and crown him King of your life today.
Prayer
1. Meditate on the authority and power of Jesus. Allow Scripture to call you to a lifestyle of obedience and worship.
2. Thank Jesus for his sacrifice. Reflect on the depth of God’s grace and power as demonstrated by the sacrifice of Jesus. God considers restored relationship with you worth the death of his perfect, only Son.
3. Crown Jesus as Lord of your life. Commit to surrendering everything to him today. Hand over control of your plans, relationships, finances, and emotions to the one who will guide you daily into the abundant life he died to give you.
“I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23
Worship
Go
To take authority over your own life is to pluck yourself out of a life filled with the unimaginable graces of God. God will not bless that which is not his will. He waits patiently day after day for us to simply choose to submit ourselves to him and follow. He longs for the day when we will stop submitting to our own pride, yield ourselves to him, and discover the wealth of life available to us in him alone. May you have the courage and humility to surrender to God and follow him today.
Extended Reading: Colossians 3 or watch The Bible Project’s video on Colossians.
May you have the courage and humility to surrender to God and follow him today.