Jesus 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. And he put all things under his 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” (Ephesians 1:21-23).
If you use social media you may have seen pictures from time to time of churches being destroyed in China, or abuses and murder of people in the Muslim world for people considering Christ, and much more. Right now, more people are suffering for the name of Christ than in all of previous history. These governments which persecute our brothers and sisters so terribly, have one thing right about why they do what they do. They perceive devotion to Jesus as, in some way, treason against the state or the ruling leader.
And they are exactly right.
Jesus and the apostles knew that such suffering was to come “They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake” (Luke 21:12). Yet, what was their response to such trouble? Notice Paul’s words in today’s passage, that Jesus is, “Far above all rule and authority.” There is no mistaking his meaning. There is no higher authority in the world than Jesus.
Paul and the apostles lived in a world dominated by Roman authority. The Caesars, under penalty of law, were worshiped as gods. Therefore, to place someone in higher authority was a form of political treason. Paul knew that, yet he continued to not only regard Jesus as supreme, but he encouraged everyone, everywhere, to worship Jesus as supreme, since his name was, “Above every name that is named.” The ultimate culmination of this worship was that Jesus would fill all in all.
Memory Verse
Jesus is, “Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named” (Ephesians 1:21).
Application
In what place do you regard Jesus? Is he your, “All in all?” How can you place your love and relationship with Jesus as the top priority in your life today?