God and Jesus are Lord – 6 October 2021
By Carina Francke
Bible text(s)
Exodus 6
God Calls Moses
1 Samuel 2
God never speaks to people anonymously. His names teach us who He is. He introduces himself to Moses as: “I am the Lord.” (Exodus 6:2) He appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty (El-Shaddai). It was only when the time came to free his people from slavery that He made himself known to them as “I am the Lord.” (Exodus 6:6) He adopted them as his people, and He will be this to them – “I am the Lord your God.” (Exodus.6:7-8)
Hannah, a barren woman, prayed to God in the temple imploring God to open her womb and give her a son. She made a vow to the Lord Almighty, that if He answered her prayer, she would give her son to the Lord for all the days of his life. (1 Samuel 1:11) He answered her prayer and when Samuel was still a small boy, she took him to the temple to serve the Lord Almighty. Her jubilant prayer of praise is a declaration: “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God …for the Lord is a God who knows …” (1 Samuel 2:1-3)
In John 9, Jesus healed a man born blind by putting mud produced from saliva on his eyes. After he washed himself in the Pool of Siloam as Jesus told him to, he came home able to see! But more than physical healing, man needs spiritual healing – the renewal of his spirit. And this includes you and me. Jesus asked him the most important question in any man’s life: “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He asks, “Who is he, sir? Tell me so that I may believe in Him.” Jesus answered him, “You have now seen him, in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” This revelation loosens his tongue: “Lord, I believe, and he worshipped him.” (John 9:35-38)
To address the Father and the Son as “Lord” (kurios – Greek) should be done in awe and with reverence. The title “kurios” carries the meaning of authority. Differing from humans with delegated authority, the eternal God and the eternal Jesus ARE authority – the Superior Authority. As Godhead, they will for ever be, in this life, in death and in the eternal life hereafter, the Superior Authority. Decisions are made and instructions given from their authority as the Godhead. Total submission from our part to the Lord’s will, is non-negotiable. Not out of slavish fear or bondage, but joyfully and willingly. (Strongs p1203) It is before this Kurios that every knee eventually shall bow, and every tongue confess that “Jesus Christ is Lord!” to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11)
Every time you call God or Jesus “LORD (kurios),” you declare that the Supreme Authority made a home in your life and that He steers the course of your life. It is before this Supreme Authority, that “… every knee will bow … and every tongue acknowledge that “Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)
Prayer: Lord, thank you that the Supreme Authority is our hope in an upside-down world. All glory and honour be unto you! Amen