MASTER

MASTER

“THOU HAST PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET." For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.” Heb. 2:8

Without sealing with the full purpose or intention of the writer's argument, it is evident that he intends to declare, that while man as he is today has failed to realize the Divine intention, this Man was an exception to the general failure, in that He perfectly realized it. To Him all things were in subjection. He was Master of the fish of the sea, and knew where to find them, when the disciples had been baffled in their all-night fishing. He understood the habits of the birds of the heavens, and drew some of His sweetest lessons from them. The very beasts of the field recognized His Lordship. Of this there is a glimpse in the account of the temptation as chronicled by Mark, "He was with the wild beasts;" (Mark 1:13) the preposition used indicating close contact, and therefore also suggesting that He was unharmed by them. He was indeed God's perfect Man, having dominion over the things of His Father's creation.

Man has not yet mastered the earth and creation that he has been given dominion over in Gen 1:26-27. He can tame it, and he can slay it, but he cannot rule it. Man is mastered by creation, struggling with it. And why has the earth not been subjected? Because man has lost his power to rule, because man has lost his sonship, because man has lost his sense of the absolute sovereignty of God. Man might be in the image of God yet but he has lost the likeness. Why has he lost the resemblance? Because he has lost the relationship. Man today is not kingly. His lusts prove it. What are lusts? Panting, passionate desire. Lust is the panting, passionate cry for something that never comes. That is not kingly. Wars do not demonstrate kingliness, they demonstrate man's inability to be kingly. Man try to grab scepters by war. Why did Pilate come asking Jesus concerning His kingship? And why did Peter cut off the ear of the soldier? Why did Christ tell Peter to put away the sword and heal the ear of the soldier? Man is weak because he is living wholly within the realm of the material. He has lost his vision, his sense of God. Man is enslaved and an uncrowned king. We see not yet all things subjected to him. But we see Jesus! Seas, He could walk on them! Bread, He could make a whole crowd be fed from a few loaves and fishes. The fruit of the vine, He could supply enough for a wedding feast! Forty days in the wilderness and He comes out pure and undefiled with the beasts!

But here is the mystery! For He was crowned with glory and honor in order that He might die!

But wise men submit to both His words that by grace He speaks to men and His rule which leads to life eternal John 13:13.