197. Jesus Our Lord.

Jesus our Lord. - Romans 4:24.

IT is the part of faith to accept great contrasts, if laid down in the word, and to make them a part of her daily speech.

This name, Lord, is a great contrast to incarnation and humiliation.

In the manger, in poverty, shame, and death, Jesus was still Lord.

These strange conditions for "our Lord" to be found in are no difficulties to that faith which is the fruit of the Spirit.

For she sees in the death of Jesus a choice reason for his being our Lord (Phil. 2:7-11). "Wherefore God hath highly exalted him."

She delights in that lordship as the fruit of resurrection; but there could have been no resurrection without death.(Acts 2: 32-36).

She hears the voice of Jehovah behind all the opposition endured by Jesus proclaiming him Lord of all (Ps. 2:110).

It never happens that our faith in Jesus for salvation makes us less reverently behold in him the Lord of all. He is "Jesus" and also "our Lord." "Born a child and yet a King." "My Beloved," and yet "my Lord and my God."

Our simple trust in him, our familiar love to him, our bold approaches to him in prayer, our near and dear communion with him, and most of all, our marriage union with him, still leave him "our Lord."

I. HIS TENDER CONDESCENSIONS ENDEAR THE TITLE. "Jesus our Lord" is a very sweet name to a believer's heart.

1. We claim to render it to him specially as man, "who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification" (verse 25). As Jesus of Nazareth, he is Lord.

2. We acknowledge him as Lord the more fully and unreservedly because he loved us and gave himself for us.

3. In all the privileges accorded to us in him, he is Lord—

· In our salvation, we have "received Christ Jesus the Lord" (Col. 2: 6).

· In entering the church, we find him the Head of the body, to whom all are subject (Eph. 5: 23).

· In our lifework, he is Lord. "We live unto the Lord" (Rom. 14:8). We glorify God in his name (Eph. 5:20).

· In resurrection, he is the firstborn from the dead (Col. 1:18).

· At the Advent, his appearing will be the chief glory (Titus 2:13).

· In eternal glory, he is worshipped forever (Rev. 5:12-13).

4. In our dearest fellowship at the table, he is "Jesus our Lord."

It is the Lord's Table, the Lord's Supper, the cup of the Lord, the body and blood of the Lord; and our object is to show the Lord's death (1 Cor. 11:20, 26-27, 29).

II. OUR LOVING HEARTS READ THE TITLE WITH PECULIAR EMPHASIS.

1. We yield it to him only. Moses is a servant, but Jesus alone is Lord. "One is your Master" (Matt. 23:8, 10).

2. To him most willingly. Ours is delighted homage.

3. To him unreservedly. We wish our obedience to be perfect.

4. To him in all matters of lawmaking and truth-teaching. He is Master and Lord: his word decides practice and doctrine.

5. To him in all matters of administration in the church and in providence. "It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good" (1 Sam. 3:18).

6. To him trustfully, feeling that he will act a lord's part right well. No king can be so wise, good, great as he (Job 1:21).

7. To him forever. He reigns in the church without successor. Now, as in the first days, we call him Master and Lord (Heb. 7:3).

III. WE FIND MUCH SWEETNESS IN THE WORD "OUR."

1. It makes us remember our personal interest in the Lord.

Each believer uses this title in the singular and calls him from his heart, "My Lord."

· David wrote, "Jehovah said unto my Lord."

· Elizabeth spoke of "the mother of my Lord."

· Magdalene said, "They have taken away my Lord."

· Thomas said, "My Lord and my God."

· Paul wrote, "The knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."

2. It brings a host of brethren before our minds, for it is in union with them that we say "our Lord." And so it makes us remember each other (Eph. 3:14-15).

3. It fosters unity and creates a holy clanship as we all rally around our "one Lord." Saints of all ages are one in this.

4. His example as Lord fosters practical love. Remember the footwashing and his words on that occasion (John 13:14).

5. Our zeal to make him Lord forbids all self-exaltation. "Be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ. Neither be ye called masters" (Matt. 23:8, 10).

6. His position as Lord reminds us of the confidence of the church in doing his work. "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach." etc. (Matt. 28:18-19). "The Lord working with them" (Mark 16:20).

7. Our common joy in Jesus as our Lord becomes an evidence of grace and, thus, of union with each other (1 Cor. 12:3).

Let us worship Jesus as our Lord and God.

Let us imitate him, copying our Lord's humility and love.

Let us serve him, obeying his every command.