² “… even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.”

Very specifically, and most importantly, Jesus was given the authority to grant eternal life. God’s relationship with His image-bearers is the focus of Jesus’ coming into this world. Ruling over the earth and the spiritual world is significant, to be sure, all things that were intended for humans. Jesus now, as the new Adam (cf. 1 Cor 15:20-49) fulfills the image of God perfectly, for He is not made in the image of God; He IS the image of God. “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature …” (Heb 1:3a). Just as Adam originally was given authority over the earth, now Jesus has been given that authority, but with added measure. What I mean is that the authority given Jesus extends to redeeming Adam and all his descendants who have cast aside the authority of God for their own self-defeating authority.

Jesus has the weight of authority to overcome the Fall and give humans the opportunity to attain to the “Tree of Life,” as it were. Remember in the garden of Eden, when the first couple were cast out, they were prevented from returning. “[God] drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life” (Gen 3:24). Who could possibly go against the cherubim and storm the Tree of Life with any kind of force or authority? Only the one who created the angel in the first place. Christ now has now been given that authority to give life that was prohibited Adam because of his sin.

The writer of Hebrews aptly quotes from Psalm 45 in showing that Christ is greater than the angels, “But of the Son [God] says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom’” (Heb 1:8). And, “To which of the angels has He ever said, ‘Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet’?” (Heb 1:13). Yes, Jesus was given the authority over the angels, and that means He has the authority to cause the cherubim to stand down, to allow passage to the tree, as it were.

Consider the reason Adam was prevented from eating from the Tree of Life. That tree was set in contrast to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:9). One tree brought spiritual death, the other, we presume, would have brought spiritual life. Neither the fig leaves (Gen 3:6), nor the animal skins (Gen 3:21) gave them authority to eat from the Tree of Life that would give them life. But Christ, the perfect sacrifice, has the authority to give eternal life.

Lord, You have given me eternal life, and for that I am eternally grateful.