Far Above All

 

Christ is “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” Ephesians 1:21 ESV

Christ is not just a ruler, but He is the ruler of all rulers, the King of Kings, and the master of the universe. He is in all things, and everything exists because of Him. His rule is mighty, triumphant, and eternal, surpassing any other ruler or power. Christ's authority is absolute and everlasting, and His reign is not limited to the future, but encompasses the present and the past as well. To acknowledge the supremacy of Christ's rule is to recognize the ultimate source of all power and the foundation of all existence.

The verse powerfully proclaims that Jesus Christ is far above all dominions, and even the lesser gods appointed by God during the Babel rebellion must submit to His authority. These principalities and powers, who have caused immense harm to the earth and its inhabitants, will soon be stripped of their power and forced to serve the true King of glory. Let us remember that no one can resist the authority of Christ and that He is the ultimate victor in this cosmic battle.

The name of Christ reigns supreme above all others, for it holds incredible power. The ancient Hebrews knew this concept well, and thus they referred to it as "hashem," meaning "the name" in Hebrew, as they held it to be holy and sacred and very rarely spoken. The name of God to the Hebrews was represented by the tetragrammaton "YHVH," consisting solely of consonants. It can be interpreted as "I am that I am," or "I will become what I will become," or simply "I am." Such a name is not to be taken lightly, for it holds immense power and is a testament to the divine in our natural world.

Jesus' bold declaration of His divinity in John 8:56-59 ESV, was a clear testimony of His identity. He confidently told the Pharisees, "…Before Abraham was, I am," unequivocally stating that He was the Son of God. This statement challenged the beliefs of many people of that time, causing them to question His claims. Despite the inevitable backlash, Jesus did not shy away from declaring the truth. This display of courage and conviction speaks to His divine nature and His unwavering commitment to His mission.

The name of Christ stands above all other names, powers, and authorities on earth, in the middle earth, and in the spiritual realm. It holds the ultimate power and rule both now and, in the future, as we move into the Kingdom age. The new city, (the New Jerusalem), is soon to emerge from the spiritual realm and intersect with our present reality. As the separation between these two realities (natural and spiritual) becomes thinner, the new city will eventually burst through and be revealed as our new home. Let us prepare ourselves now for this coming Kingdom age, where the power and rule of Christ will reign supreme.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new…” Revelation 21:1-5 ESV

"You literally cannot make this stuff up. It is the reality in which we live as sons and daughters of God. This message has been encoded upon our hearts, and it is only now becoming evident in our lives as we fully trust our Savior. He will take us where we need to go and help us become what we need to become. 'Jesus loves me, this I know, for the bible tells me so' This truth is inescapable."

Stephen Barnett