Thoughts from The Bible: – 12/09/20

Thoughts from the Bible

Monday, 07 December 2020 13:27

Jesus is the Lord – Part Two
by Terry Broome

The Apostle Paul writes in Colossians 2:6-7 – “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” A study of the “lordship” of Christ is a most helpful exercise. It not only helps us to focus on a right relation with Him — He is “My Lord,” but also it helps us to see a very tender and loving side to his personality. One cannot read John Chapter 11 without feeling the warmth that Mary and Martha felt for this man they lovingly referred to as “Lord.” Another example of this warm and intimate descriptive term is in John 21:7a “Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.. . .” His name is Jesus, yet with great tenderness of feeling, his disciples called him “Lord,” “it is the Lord.” This descriptive term came to be their most often used phrase to each other for Jesus, and to let others know of whom they were speaking.

This title was given to Jesus at birth, Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” It’s a title He shares with the Father who throughout the Old and New Testament is described as “Lord.” Word searches produce some 7836 entries of this title, nearly all referring to Jehovah or Christ. That alone is overwhelming. The “lordship” of God the Father and His Son is a matter of great importance for us to recognize. In fact John in the Revelation (17:14) elevates Jesus eternally in our minds as “Lord of lords, and King of kings” – “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”

We’re acknowledging much about Christ when we declare that He is “the Lord.” We’re indicating that He has authority or power. The word kurios, translated “lord,” so signifies this from the Greek. The title was and is used in the common sense of one who is in an elevated position, and is a term used to show respect for that position. Sarah acknowledged Abraham in a very special way according to I Peter 3: 6, “Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.”

He is the one to whom many of us voluntarily surrender ourselves, and thus some refer to Jesus as “the Lord of my life.” He must occupy this position for any who are in a rightful relationship with Him. Anything less would be too little. As one of our hymns declares, “Jesus must be the Lord of all, Or He’ll not be your Lord at all.” Because of His Majesty and Oneness with God, there will come a time when all others who now resist Him as “Lord” will be compelled to surrender: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11).

There is so much about Jesus’ personality, His nature, His compassion, His relationship to His body the church that draws us to want to bow and yield to His will. In John 20:28 , Thomas did that which I believe most of us would do in His presence, “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” Will you allow Jesus to be the Lord to whom you surrender your life today?

The author can be reached for comments at 256-574-2489.