The Lord

 

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so 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, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 ESV).

 

After making a weighty statement, it’s good to pause and let the meaning of the words settle in. In a sense, that’s what happens after we say, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.” This is a lot to take in. There are many words translated “Lord” in the Bible. Some of those are written in Hebrew (primarily in the Old Testament) while others are in Greek (exclusively in the New Testament). Our reading today uses the Greek word kyrios. In the Mediterranean world, someone with power and authority over others was called a “lord” or “master.” In the New Testament, Jesus is addressed or referred to as “Lord” more than 700 times.

 

Jesus is addressed as “Lord” in two ways. First, he is called “Lord” in the same way as he is often called “Rabbi” or “Teacher” when someone asks him a question or requests healing. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, however, calling him “Lord” takes on much greater meaning. It signifies that Jesus is God himself. It signifies that God the Father has given Jesus all authority over heaven and earth. And, ultimately, it looks ahead to the day when “every tongue [will] acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (v. 11).

 

We rightly pause when we call Jesus “our Lord.” We confess both his true identity and our just response. Then in awe and gratitude we ask and seek out how to serve him.