Authority to Give Life

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.

John 17:1a-2

This verse is not a separate thought from verse 1 of John 17, rather it is a continuation, “according as you gave him authority.” So the Son was not given authority by the Father for a purpose other than the expression of His redemptive love. This is the idea that there is no disunity in the Godhead, rather the Father and the Son, along with the eternal Spirit, were in complete agreement that they would be glorified by the redemptive act of death on the cross.

“Authority” could also be understood here as “power” as the word (ezousia) can be understood either way. From time to time we hear people say, “If Christ has all power why doesn’t He end poverty?” But God’s glory is expressed not in changing the physical conditions of humanity, but in transforming hearts. God will end poverty and human suffering, but the cause of this suffering is not God, but fallen man. If poverty were ended tomorrow across the world, but human hearts were unchanged, the day afterward it would return again in ever increasing presence. The problem of this world is human hearts that are turned from God. Christ is given authority and power through the cross and by His word and Spirit to transform and change us.

The change is described as simply having “eternal life” and this is not just length of days but a different kind of life — life that is removed from the decay and corruption of sin and selfishness, life that comes from the fullness of Christ Himself.

These deep and profound thoughts about God’s glory and Christ’s authority should have simple applications in our lives — we should simply love people in the power and blessedness of Christ. Christ has chosen some people, not merely to wait to inherit heaven while they live selfishly below, but to demonstrate Calvary love.

Yesterday as Lana and I went through customs in Dallas, on filling out the customs declaration form, I had remembered that we thoughtlessly tossed in some good German meats, vacuum sealed of course. So on the form, rather than be dishonest, I checked “yes,” we had some meats, so the agent sent us to the agricultural checker line. She was a very nice lady and we showed her what we had brought, which she said we could not bring into the country — too bad — but there could have been a very steep fine of $400 if we had been caught doing so.

But worse than the fine would have been the witness, because as I opened up my suitcase for her, sitting on top was my leather bound personal Bible and devotional prayer journal. We gave a good witness because we had confessed up front what we had done. But what would it have been like if we had tried to sneak it past them? We would have shamed the name of Christ, and showed that Christians do not live up to their ideals.

This Christmas Eve and tomorrow Christmas Day, make sure you live up to the ideals of the faith, and that you express love to all those around you. Be more unselfish than ever before and you will be bringing glory to Christ and to others. And, I believe, you will find that you will also enjoy Christmas more than yourself.