Proverbs is a training manual for David’s son to learn how to exercise authority wisely. Yahweh promised him the nations as an inheritance (Ps 2); that he would rule over the world (Ps 72). Consequently, he must grow in wisdom to match the responsibility that the Father planned for him.
Standing on a mountain in Galilee, having been recently declared David’s true son through his resurrection from the dead (Rom 1.3-4), Jesus proclaims, “All authority in heaven and upon earth has been given to me” (Mt 28.18). Unlike the first son, Adam, who grasped for authority prematurely, seizing the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which had the power to make one wise (Gen 3.6), Jesus was patient, waiting until the Father gave him the authority. He resisted, what James Jordan calls, “the dominion trap,” on several occasions. During his temptation in the wilderness, the devil tempted him by promising him authority over all the kingdoms of the world if he would pledge his fealty to him. “You don’t need to wait. The world is a mess. You need to be a man of action. Jump out there and do something about it. You have power. You could change the world.” Jesus knew that it wasn’t time. Going about taking dominion without first being established in the fear of the Lord and maturing to the point that he could handle the responsibility was a fool’s errand. No matter how good his intentions might be, without the wisdom to handle the responsibility, the mess made in the end would be worse than the beginning.
Jesus waited. He waited all the way through death, even the death of the cross.
Now he is ready. Now he has the maturity as a man to handle the responsibility. He knows this because the Father granted him all authority in heaven and upon the earth. He now has the right and responsibility to govern things in heaven and upon the earth.
His authority in heaven is his exaltation over the angels, those heavenly beings who make up the throne of God and under whose tutelage and governance man was placed until he was mature enough to be exalted over them (cf. Ps 8; Heb 1—2). Now he is exalted over heavenly as well as fallen angels.
Heaven’s throne has authority over the earth, so it is no surprise to hear that Jesus has all authority upon the earth. However, it needs to be clear: Jesus is king over all the earth. His authority extends over individuals, families, and nations. This is not some “religious” or “spiritual” authority that concerns only their eternal destinies. This is authority to dictate every area of life, from the internal order of our hearts to the structures of geo-political relationships. All authority on earth means all authority over everything on earth.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 1 that Christ’s authority is a gift for his church. The Father put all things under Jesus’ feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Eph 1.22-23). Jesus’ authority is a gift to the church to bring her into her promised glory. He exercises dominion for the sake of the church.
But that is not where the gift of authority stops. The authority is given to Christ head-and-body, Christ + the church, the new Adam and Eve. While the church remains ever subordinate and a lesser authority than Christ himself, we are seated with Christ Jesus in heavenly places, reigning with him over all principalities and powers (Eph 2.6). Christ Jesus rules in the church, for the church, but he also rules through the church. The original mission of the man and woman, dominion over creation to bring it to its glory, is accomplished by Christ head-and-body discipling the nations, baptizing them and teaching them what it means to order their lives under the lordship of Jesus.
The church and her authority are not to be confused with the personal authority of an individual, families, or governments. These must all remain distinct, each with its own purpose and accountability to God. However, the church authoritatively speaks to every realm of authority on the earth, discipling them in what it means to be human in every area of life. Because Jesus has all authority upon the earth and the church is called to proclaim and exercise that authority, we speak to every aspect of earthly existence. We are not merely trying to get people to heaven when they die. All of these different spheres do have their own authority, but they are all to bow before the authoritative word of the King proclaimed through his church.
Jesus Christ is King. Jesus Christ is King over everything. Jesus Christ is King, and his church is his royal ambassador to whom the nations and everyone in them are to submit.
