Power Over All Flesh

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:1-3)

Jesus states His purpose and reason for being on this planet. When all things are said and done, His one function was to glorify God. He did this by doing what He was sent to do; “give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him”. I believe we all need to refocus our purpose and align it back to glorifying God.

And notice, as in everything associated with God, that there is not only a reason for Him, but a season for the reason. “The hour is come”. God sets the stage to do His will when it is time. Sometimes the stage set is conducive to do His bidding. Sometimes it’s quite the opposite!

“As thou hast given him power over all flesh”. “Exousia” is the Greek word that was transliterated to the English word “power”. It is often transliterated as “authority”. The etymology of the root word for exousia means, “to be lawful”. All three, power, authority and being lawful have equal application and relevance within the context of this passage.

Christ had to have power over all flesh to be able to reconcile it at the cross.

“As many as thou hast given him”. God gave people to Jesus to save. Think about this for a moment. God was the instigating factor, the motivation, and cause that inspired people to come to Jesus. Jesus spoke the things that God told Him to speak. Christ’s word went out and God quickened the spirit of His elect with the Holy Ghost. It is when the eyes of God’s people are opened to Jesus Christ with the word of God that they were drawn to Christ.

The purpose of this union was to give eternal life to whomever God brought to Jesus. God does not quicken every spirit.

Eternal life is in the knowledge of God, not just believing in God. James taught that “the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19). So what’s the difference between belief and knowledge?

Belief deals primarily with the external. It is confidence in something or someone’s ability to act and do in a certain manner, and/or at a certain time.

Knowledge is internal. It is the comprehension and understanding of the who, what, why, when, where and how of someone or something. This knowledge is familiar and familial.

The devils can believe in God, but only a family member can truly know Him.

Bill Hitchcock