A lesson on the authority of Christ. In today's passage, we see that Jesus has been given authority over all flesh, as well as a particular people for Himself gifted from the Father, and to which Christ gives the gift of eternal life. We see that Christ alone is King over all flesh, meaning He has power over all people, over all nations, and over all their being: body and spirit. And indeed, Christ has power over all of creation – in Heaven, and on Earth, and under the Earth. Through the victory of the cross, Christ subdues the wickedness of evil men, pays their debts, and sets them free - giving them a heart after Himself – the only One God and Man worthy to be followed. And while we yet live in this fallen sinful world, which is at present in rebellion against its Creator, we have our life and refuge in Him. Christ has graciously given His life that we may live; that we may be made holy and blameless, conformed to His likeness. If we are in Christ, He has opened the eyes and ears of our hearts, that we may joyfully submit to Him, who is our good and sovereign King.

A Christian is to submit to the authority of Christ not in order to be saved, or under obligation to some external system of good works. But because we love Christ, who loved us first and gave Himself for us, we submit to Him as Lord. He has accomplished all that is necessary for salvation, so that the power of sin has lost its grip, and we are now free, by God's grace, to submit to Christ's authority which has been there from the very beginning. The reality of Christ's authority has implications for every aspect of our lives; therefore let us do all to the glory of God, striving to reflect His attributes, as Christ presently reigns over and brings into submission every corner of His universe.