Knowing All Things, Given All Things

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God . . . . (John 13:3).

Once again, we are confronted with the divine attributes of Jesus - those qualities and characteristics of deity that made Him God and man. In this verse we are reminded of Jesus’ omniscience and omnipotence, His knowing all things and His sovereign authority over all things. Compare this verse with 1 Corinthians 15:23-28, which, speaking of the resurrection, reads, But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Coupled with Philippians 2:9-11, speaking of Jesus’ obedience to the Father, even to death on the cross, Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, the exaltation of Jesus is fully understood. (1) His perfect obedience to God’s plan for human salvation through death on the cross resulted in (2) His resurrection from the dead, ascension into heaven, and position at the right hand of the Father’s throne in glory, which emphasizes (3) His sovereign rule and reign over all of creation through the final, Great White Throne judgment at the end of time. In His sovereign omniscience, Jesus fully understood all of this, that the Father had given all things into His hands.

This also means that Jesus was in full control of His human destiny. Every decision of God and man that led to, and fulfilled, the plan of salvation was placed in His hands. No decision of His family, the disciples, the Chief Priests, Elders, and the Jewish population, and no action of Satan and his ministers was beyond the sovereign knowledge and authority of Jesus. It had all been given into His hands.

It is an awesome thing realizing that the Holy Spirit would open our understanding to the truth of these things, including our salvation. It is not capricious in any aspect. It had been fully planned in eternity past, fully prepared through the Old Testament, fully executed in Jesus Christ, and fully completed and sealed through our Lord’s resurrection. The application of salvation to individual lives is determined as well. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one (John 10:27-30). Amen.

Pastor