He has been given all authority

The Easter weekend is quite eventful. From the arrest of Jesus, to His trial, crucifixion, burial and resurrection, we see the different ways the Son of God went through pain in order to atone for all humanity. The question I used to ask myself was, “if Jesus’ death is the atonement we needed, why didn’t God the Father make the process easy for Jesus?” The truth is, Jesus needed to die in a specific way to bear the curse of the Law. ‭Deuteronomy 21:22-23 states that, “If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.” On the cross, Jesus took the curse of the Law that had been on humanity for centuries. His blood also washed away our sins. Therefore dealing with the sinful nature and the sin itself at once. This great sacrifice of Jesus came at a cost, He was crucified. During Easter, we ponder over these things and glorify God for Jesus.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (‭Matthew 28:18)

Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross came with rewards for Him. His obedience and humility as a man, even though God is worth emulating. Pilippians 2:8 states that “and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” Even though Jesus knew the full extent of what to expect from the journey to the cross, He was still obedient even to death. In ‭Philippians 2:9-11 we see God’s response to this humility of Jesus: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Jesus’ exaltation is based on the task He fulfilled. After the resurrection of Jesus, He told His disciples that “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (‭Matthew 28:18). The authority man lost in the Garden of Eden, was restored through Jesus. In this authority, Jesus commissioned the disciples to go out in His name and make exploits.

What was the mandate given to the disciples? Jesus told them, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”‭ (Matthew 28:19-20). The disciples were authorized In the name and power of Jesus to go and transform their world through discipleship, baptism, teaching and the impartation of power. Their Lord and Master has been given all authority and as the disciples went out in His name, they shared in His authority. No wonder ordinary fishermen, tax collectors, among many ordinary people became great agents of transformation. They turned their worlds upside down. They demonstrated power, wisdom, and versatility even in the midst of pain and suffering. As followers of Jesus, we share in this great mandate. Easter celebrations should remind us of the need to go out in the power of Jesus’ authority and transform our world. May God help us!

The fall of Babylon the Great

The Great Prostitute also known as Babylon the Great as we saw in a previous post is a representation of a religious system in rebellion to God’s pattern. Before the end of Revelation 17, we are introduced to the internal rebellion from the beast and the ten horns against the Great Prostitute. (Revelation‬ ‭17:16‭-‬17‬ states that “The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled.” The first fall of the Great Prostitute also known as Babylon the Great refers to the fall of her religious significance. In chapter 18 of the book of Revelation, an angel explains to John the fall of Babylon the Great, this time focusing on her commercial powers that would be lost. It is needful to say that the woman depicting Babylon the Great, was controlling both a religious and a commercial system.

With a mighty voice he shouted: “ ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.‭‭ (Revelation‬ ‭18:2‬)

This was how Babylon’s fall was announced: “After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. With a mighty voice he shouted: “ ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal. For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭18:1‭-‬3‬). After this announcement, there were series of warnings for people to come out of her and to escape the wrath that is meant for her. For she was destined for death, mourning and famine. The fall of Babylon would be so great that those who enjoyed her commercial powers will mourn over her. The kings of the earth (Revelation 18:9), the merchants of the earth (Revelation 18:11) and the captains of the sea and all who travel by ship (Revelations 18:17) will all mourn over her and wail for her doom was so great.

Why will the doom of Babylon, the Great Prostitute be so significant? As we mentioned in a previous post, as early as the kingdom of Nimrod recorded in Genesis 11, Babylon represented a religious system that is in opposition to God’s kingdom. This great prostitute depicted as a woman controls both religious and commercial systems and alliance to her meant rejection of God. She does not deceive mere people. She deceives nations, territories and influences even the antichrist. The sole mandate of this woman, Babylon the Great has been to oppose God’s kingdom and everything else that promotes righteousness. Babylon is the promoter of all sorts of violence and vile lifestyles. She drinks the blood of God’s holy people and promotes those who are antichrist. No wonder her fall is such a great victory.

What will be the final destination of this symbolic woman, Babylon the Great? According to ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭18:21‬, “Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.” The end of Babylon is destruction, extermination, eternal doom and loss of her place in the land of the living. Do not be deceived by her affluence and control, run away from her as much as you can. She has been destined for doom and destruction. Even if she dominates rulers and authority (the kings), businesses (the merchants) and all sorts of transportation (captains and sailors), her days are numbered. Her end is so shameful.

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭and 17-18 admonishes this: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

The Christian Woman’s submission to God: Head covering

Growing up, I only knew that as a Christian woman, I needed to cover my head with a head scarf to church. When I later inquired about why I needed to cover my head, I was told that Apostle Paul commanded it. No further explanation was given as to why Apostle Paul commanded it. No wonder years later, a generation arose that was not impressed with the head covering dogma and the majority of these young women refused to cover their heads until the church stopped complaining about it. Now, head covering is not a compulsory dress code for that denomination. Many of the things or the dogmatic practices in various denominations are treated just like the issue with the head covering. Even leaders are not well informed on why a church considers one thing a priority over the other. The issue of head covering in the Bible as perceived in the first letter to the people of Corinth addressed specific issues in the Corinthian church.

But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. (1 Corinthians 11:5)

First we need to understand that Paul wrote to a specific congregation but the letter has truths that are applicable in all generations. In 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, Paul addresses the issue of women and head covering in the church. We need to understand that this was a fragment of a whole apostolic letter and at this point in the letter Paul was addressing the concerns about submission in the church. The apostle states that “But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (1 Corinthians 11:3). Here, Paul outlines a hierarchy or chain of command that every Christian must submit to: the headship of God the Father, God the Son,the husband and then the wife. In the Corinthian culture, a married woman was required to wear a head covering as a sign of her submission to her husband’s authority and tentatively the submission to God’s authority.

Furthermore, in the Corinthian culture women kept long hair and the men kept short hair. They perceived the woman’s hair as her glory given for her covering: “For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. But if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.” (1 Corinthians 11:6,15). Paul reasoned that submission to the husband and God is a pattern that even the angels consider and learn from humanity (1 Corinthians 11:10). As Paul addressed this cultural issue that was disrupting the smooth flow of the church, Paul did not entirely abandon the culture. He used the cultural significance of head covering to teach a spiritual truth of submission in the body of Christ. Head covering or submission wasn’t an act of inferiority but an act of obedience to God’s pattern of authority.

Unfortunately, the issue of head covering has not been justly explained in the body of Christ. In fact, it has rather become a sign of a church with “suppressed women” rather than an understanding of authority. Must every woman wear a head covering? Maybe we need to go back and understand the cultural significance of this as well as the spiritual implications. Wearing the biggest head covering and refusing to submit to the authority of your husband shows a woman with an uncovered head. Truth be told, head covering is now more fashionable in the church than a religious requirement. There are still cultures in the world, especially in the Middle East that require head covering for married women. Whenever women in such cultures wear head covering as a result of marriage, Paul wants us to consider this in relation to the chain command in the Christian home. Remember, you cannot submit to God if you are not submitted to your husband. Your head is uncovered.

To the unmarried sisters, submission is required even if you marry an unbeliever… therefore, before you say “I do” make sure that you say “I don’t” to any character deformity that will make submission difficult and unreasonable. No woman wants to submit to her bully.