Crowns X

“Crown him the Lord of heaven! One with the Father known, and the blest Spirit through him given from yonder triune throne!”

So far, the stanzas have included multiple places or things over which Jesus rules (i.e. time, peace, years, love, etc.). This verse specifically addresses equality within the Trinity. Even in heaven, he is fully equal to the Father. He set aside the full use or display of his divine attributes while he walked on earth, but never again. In John 17:5, we read, “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” Jesus has been eternally glorious and equal to the Father. He has been “one” with the Father (John 17:22). He is known and worshipped as equal to the Father in heaven. He is “Seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). He is in the position of power and authority.

Next, we are told that he “gives” the Holy Spirit. This is not saying that the Spirit is an inferior deity who can be commissioned. Rather, Jesus’ death on the cross cleared the way for the Holy Spirit to indwell believers. Jesus promised to send “another Comforter” (John 14:16). This has the idea of another of the same kind or substance. There is a perfect equality within the Trinity, but each has a different role. Each exists in a perfect love relationship with the other. There is not selfish bickering or a pecking order to be established. They constantly operate based on what will be best for the others. When Paul wrote, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit” (Philippians 2:3) he wasn’t just expressing a nice platitude. He was teaching a principle that has been in place for eternity. It is impossible for us to live this way in our own strength. It will take a surrender to the life and empowerment of the Spirit to die to our selfish desires.

Finally, the author encapsulates what he has been discussing this whole time – the Trinity. I have yet to meet a Christian, no matter how mature, that fully understands the Trinity. This is the great mystery of Christianity. There are aspects that we understand. From the beginning of time, it is clear that God was in fellowship (“Let us make man” Genesis 1:26). He was in relationship and eternal fellowship. We also see this mirrored in our own lives. We are created in his image and are made for communion. Even the most introverted person needs at least some fellowship. There is a reason that solitary confinement is considered such a severe punishment. We were created for communion with God and fellowship with one another. Sin has obviously interrupted this, but Jesus’s death has opened the way for us to return to a restored relationship with the Father. We can once more approach the Triune throne (Hebrews 4:16). One final thought, the Triune throne is important because while there are three distinct persons in One God, their rule is perfectly unanimous. There is not a division in their judgments or opinions. They rule absolutely and in complete harmony. The closest we will (likely) ever come to diverging thoughts was in the garden of Gethsemane, yet immediately Jesus follows his plea for the cup to pass from him with the statement, “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Even then, in complete agony, Jesus remained in agreement with the divine and eternal plan.

If that Spirit lives in us, he would speak truth. He would love, he would be bold. He would seek unity – when it can be accomplished without compromise. If we are in Christ, we would “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). Notice, it says nothing about achieving the unity of the Spirit. That has already been accomplished by Jesus’ death on the cross and the arrival of “another Comforter.” We are supposed to demonstrate that unity to a watching world (and to believers who might be hurting). It is nothing of ourselves or our power. We were never meant to live the Christian life – we are meant to surrender to the empowerment of another.