What does it mean to be sovereign?
- There are a number of uses of the word “sovereign”, but the one that we are referring to this morning is as follows. Definition: “Supreme in power or authority”
- This is a perfect adjective to describe Jesus: The name above all names, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Jesus' Sovereignty is a bit different than other kings
Colossians 1:15-16 “15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”
- Jesus literally created all other rulers and authorities. THIS is why his sovereignty is different than all the rest.
- However, Jesus is not sovereign in the respect that we generally think of when we think of earthly kings and royalty.
John 18:36 “Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.””.
Jesus does not operate His kingdom like earthly kings do because His kingdom is not of the earth. His sovereignty is perfect and complete. Unlike earthly kings and leaders, whose power comes from an external source: birthright or election or something else, Jesus’ power and authority comes from WHO HE IS.
Jesus’ sovereignty is above all others because he is God
- He has had all power and authority since the beginning of creation.
John 1:1-5: “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
- These verses describe how Jesus has existed since the beginning of creation and his relationship with God. “The Word” as described in this passage is Jesus. Jesus is the Word of God (see John 1:14).
- Jesus’ sovereignty comes from the fact that He is God.
How does King Jesus use all of His power and authority?
- He comes to serve us
- Jesus uses His power and authority to serve all of mankind (often times the most vulnerable among us).
- Unlike other kings who have countless servants and live in excess, Jesus came only to serve. He was born lowly and humbly in a manger.
- Look at the example of washing the disciples’ feet: John 13:1-20.
- Think about this for a moment: God incarnate literally bent down at His disciples’ feet to wash them…
2. He comes to save us - literally taking our place on the cross
1 Peter 3:18: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteousness, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.”
3. He comes to be in relationship with us
- This is evident from the Gospel. God is holy and therefore cannot dwell with sin or evil. So He sent Jesus to cleanse us. This enables us to have relationship with Him.
- Through the Gospel and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, our bodies literally become the temple of God.
1 Corinthians 6:19 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;” Because of this, God is always with us. He NEVER leaves us.
How do we/should we respond to all of this?
- Jesus is worthy of all our praise and devotion
- We need to surrender to Him daily, confessing our sins and imperfections.
- We should choose to serve Jesus by serving others.
