Kingdom Kernel #15 - Why Did the Father Give the Kingdom to the Son?
As I was praying the Lord’s Prayer one morning, I was reflecting on this question: "Why did the Father give the Son (Jesus) the kingdom?"—especially in light of the fact that He would give it back to His Father in the end.
“Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.” (1 Corinthians 15:24)
Why Did the Father Give the Kingdom to the Son?
The Father entrusted the kingdom to Jesus to restore humanity’s original purpose, correcting the failures of the first Adam, demonstrating perfect dominion, and empowering believers to live as faithful stewards of God’s creation. This essay explores this divine plan through four key elements: the contrast between the First Adam and the Last Adam, the restoration of God’s kingdom, Jesus as the perfect example, and the renewal of humanity’s role through Christ.
The First Adam vs. the Last Adam
The Bible contrasts the first Adam, who failed in his God-given role, with Jesus, the "Last Adam" 1 Corinthians 15:45. Adam was created to rule over creation as God’s representative Genesis 1:26-28, but his disobedience introduced sin, corrupting humanity and creation Romans 5:12. Jesus, however, succeeded where Adam failed. Through His perfect obedience, even unto death Philippians 2:8, and His resurrection, Jesus overcame sin and death, redeeming creation and establishing His authority as King Philippians 2:9-11.
Restoring God’s Kingdom
By giving Jesus authority over all things Matthew 28:18, the Father restores His design for creation. Jesus’ reign demonstrates how humanity was meant to live—under God’s authority with humility, love, and righteousness. Romans 5:18-19 underscores this: through Adam’s disobedience, many were made sinners, but through Jesus’ obedience, many are made righteous. His kingship defeats sin and rebellion, aligning creation with God’s will 1 Corinthians 15:24-28. Jesus’ rule reflects God’s character, bringing life and peace, and prepares creation for its ultimate restoration when He delivers the kingdom to the Father 1 Corinthians 15:24.
Jesus as the Perfect Example
Jesus, as the Last Adam 1 Corinthians 15:45, models God’s original design for dominion. His life exemplified servant leadership Mark 10:45, humility Philippians 2:5-8, and sacrificial love John 15:13. Through His teachings and miracles—such as healing the sick and calming storms—Jesus showed care for creation and humanity, reflecting God’s desire for flourishing. His righteous rule, marked by justice and peace Isaiah 9:6-7, sets the standard for how humanity was meant to steward creation, in harmony with God’s will, rather than exploiting it as Adam did.
Restoring Our Role Through Christ
Through Jesus’ redemptive work, believers are restored to their role as God’s image-bearers, called to steward creation faithfully. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are conformed to Christ’s image Romans 8:29 to fulfill our original mandate: to care for creation Genesis 2:15, lead with humility Matthew 20:26-28, and live righteously Micah 6:8. As Ephesians 2:10 states, we are created in Christ for good works, renewing our purpose to reflect God’s glory in our stewardship of His kingdom.
Conclusion
The Father gave the kingdom to Jesus to correct Adam’s failure, restore God’s design for creation, and provide a perfect example of righteous dominion. Through Christ, believers are empowered to fulfill their calling as stewards of God’s creation, living with humility, love, and righteousness. Jesus’ reign not only redeems humanity but also points to the ultimate restoration of all things, when the kingdom is returned to the Father, fulfilling God’s redemptive plan.
Disciple-Maker’s Short Story
The Kingdom’s Yield
The sun cracked the horizon, spilling gold across the Kansas wheat fields, the stalks swaying like a silent hymn. Jared and Phil leaned against the hulking green frame of a John Deere combine harvester, its metal cool against their backs despite the warming dawn. Steam curled from their thermos of coffee, the bitter scent mingling with the earth’s damp breath. They’d been up since before light, preparing for the harvest, but now they paused, Bibles open, voices low in prayer.
“‘Thy kingdom come,’” Jared murmured, finishing the Lord’s Prayer, his breath visible in the crisp air. He was young, barely twenty, his hands calloused but his faith still tender, searching. Phil, weathered and sixty, with eyes like the sky before a storm, nodded quietly, his own prayer a steady undercurrent.
They turned to 1 Corinthians 15, reading in turns, their voices weaving with the rustle of wheat. When they reached verse 24—“Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.”—Jared paused, his finger tracing the words. He frowned, his brow knitting.
“I’ve read this before,” he said, voice low, almost to himself, “but I never saw it like this. The Son… giving the kingdom back to the Father? Why’s that matter so much?”
Phil took a slow sip of coffee, his eyes on the horizon where the sun climbed higher, painting the fields in fire. He set the thermos on the combine’s step, his movements deliberate, like a man who’d learned to measure time by seasons, not seconds.
“It’s the heart of it all, Jared,” Phil said, his voice gravelly but warm, like soil turned after rain. “The Father gave the kingdom to the Son to fix what we broke. Adam—first man—messed it up. Sin, pride, all that. Jesus, the Last Adam, He’s the one who makes it right. He rules like we were meant to—humble, just, full of love. And when He’s done, He hands it all back to the Father, pure and whole.”
Jared shifted, his boots scuffing the dirt. He was a thinker, always wrestling with the why of things. Raised in church, he knew the stories, but this felt different—bigger, like the fields stretching endless before them. “So, it’s about… what? Showing us how to live?”
Phil chuckled, a sound like dry leaves. “More than that. It’s about why we live. Look at this field.” He gestured to the wheat, golden heads bowing under their own weight. “God gave Adam a garden to tend, to rule with care. He didn’t. We’ve been breaking things ever since—land, people, ourselves. Jesus takes the kingdom, shows us how it’s done. He heals, He serves, He loves even to the cross. That’s what dominion looks like. Not grabbing power, but giving it back, clean.”
Jared’s eyes followed the wheat, imagining Jesus walking these fields, His hands brushing the stalks, His voice calming storms. He thought of his own life—his temper, his doubts, the way he’d snapped at his sister last week over nothing. “I don’t know if I can live like that,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Phil turned, his gaze steady, not judging but seeing, the way he could spot a blight in the crop from a hundred yards. “None of us can, not on our own. That’s why He sent the Spirit. You read Romans 8:29? We’re being shaped into His image, Jared. Every time you choose patience over anger, love over pride, you’re stepping into that. You’re tending the kingdom, same as this field.”
The combine loomed behind them, a machine of precision and power, built to reap what was sown. Jared thought of the harvest—how the machine separated grain from chaff, how it gathered what was good and left the rest behind. He wanted that clarity in himself, to cut away the mess and keep what mattered.
“I want to be like Him,” Jared said, the words spilling out, raw and earnest. “Like Jesus. Not just… doing good, but living like He did. Humble. True.”
Phil smiled, lines deepening around his eyes. “That’s the prayer, son. Start small. Tend what’s in front of you—your family, this land, your heart. The Spirit’ll do the rest, same as He grows this wheat. You just keep showing up.”
The sun was fully up now, the fields ablaze with light. Jared felt a stirring, not just in his chest but deeper, like a seed breaking open. He looked at Phil, then at the Bible still open in his hands, the words of 1 Corinthians 15:24 glowing like the dawn. The kingdom wasn’t just a place, he realized—it was a way of being, a life surrendered, given back to the Father.
“C’mon,” Phil said, clapping Jared’s shoulder. “Let’s get this combine running. Got a harvest to bring in.”
As he climbed into the cab, Jared felt the weight of the moment settle, not heavy but hopeful. He’d tend the field today, and maybe, with God’s help, he’d tend his soul too—step by step, toward the One who’d shown the way.