Jesus is Our Lord
3rd May 2021
The word Lord, a title conferred in England on people who have distinguished themselves in their respective career, originally referred to a person who wielded authority. Also those men belonging to the noble family were called Lord and the women Lady. In India we have the Landlord generally a house owner who gives his house on rent. But the upper caste owner of acres of land were also “landlords” or as they are commonly called zamindars. They wielded enormous power and authority over those below them. Generally people of the lower caste who worked their fields were bonded laborer and were in lifelong slavery to the landlord. Their household slaves would serve their every bidding with instant obedience. When the Master returned from overseeing the field work, the household slave would wash their landlord’s feet. They served their masters in fear and terror as any mistake could cost their life.
The first century Israel was no different . Ruled by an autocratic Roman empire, the common subjects were in terror of their governors. They longed to be free of the oppressive Roman rule but any rebellion would cost them their lives. Into this society was born Jesus – the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings – not in a noble family to bear the title Lord nor in a rich family to be a Landlord – but born into a poor family as an insignificant nobody. Jesus taught the scriptures with authority because it was His Word, Jesus spoke and the wind and the storm obeyed because they were His creation and Jesus commanded and the evil spirits fled for they were under His judgement.
Jesus being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Phil 2:6-7 Why did Jesus have to do this ? Was Jesus so delighted with His human race that He chose to be born as one among them ? Did He see life on earth so wonderful that He left heaven and came down to earth ? No Jesus came to a mankind steeped in every form of Sin. Jesus came to a mankind that had rebelled against God. Jesus came to a mankind that hated Him . Yet to this mankind Jesus said “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Math 20:28. And Jesus did humble Himself as a lowly slave and wash His disciples feet and then go on to offer His life as a ransom for the most treacherous sinners like us. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords was spat upon, crowned with a crown of thorns, scourged with a whip and was finally nailed to a cruel Cross . On the Cross Jesus took on mankind’s sins and bore the wrath of a Holy God.
The third day God “raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” Eph 1:20-21 “God exalted Jesus 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 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” Phil 2:9-11
It is this Jesus who is our God and our Lord.
All praise to Him who reigns on high,
In majesty supreme,
Who gave His life for man to die,
That He might man redeem.
His name above all names shall stand,
Exalted more and more,
At God the Father’s own right hand,
Where angel hosts adore.
William Henry Clarke (1854 – 1925)