Jesus Our Lord
“JESUS OUR LORD.” — Romans iv. 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. ii. 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 ii. 32-36.
She hears the voice of Jehovah behind all the opposition endured by Jesus, proclaiming him Lord of all. Ps. ii.; ex.
It never happens that our faith in Jesus for salvap tion 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. HlS TBNDER CONDESCENSIONS ENDEAR THB TITLB.
“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 offences, and was raised again for our justification “: verse 25. As Jesus of Nazareth, lie is Lord.
2. We acknowledge him as Lord the more fully
and unreservedly, because he loved us, and
gave himself for us. & In all the privileges accorded to us in him he
is Lord : — In our salvation, we have “received Christ
Jesus the Lord “: Col. ii. 6. In entering the church we find him the head of
the bodv, to whom all are subject. Eph. v.
23. In our life-work he is Lord.” We live unto
the Lord”: Rom. xiv. 8. We glorify God in
his name. Eph. v. 20. In resurrection he is the firstborn from the
dead. Col. i. 18.
At the Advent his appearing will be the
chief glory. Titus ii. 13. In eternal glory he is worshipped for ever.
Rev. v. 12, 13. 4. In our dearest fellowship at the table he ic
“Jesus our Lord.”
“JESUS OUE LOKD.” 28
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. xi. 20, 26, 27, 29.
II. OUB 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, xxiii. 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 law-making and truthteaching. 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. iii. 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 i. 21.
7. To him forever. He reigns in the church with
out successor. Now, as in the first days, we call him Master and Lord. Heb. vii. 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,” etc.
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. iii. 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 foot-washing and his words
on that occasion. John xiii. 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,” etc.: Matt, xxiii. 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, xxviii. 18, 19. “The Lord working with them “: Mark xvi. 20.
7. Our common joy in Jesus as our Lord becomes
an evidence of grace, and thus of union
with each other. 1 Cor. xii. 3.
“JESUS OUR LORD.” 26
Let us worship Jesus as our Lord and God.
Let us imitate him, copying our Lord’s humilitj
and love. Let us serve him, obeying his every command.
GEMS.
It ought to be the great care of every one of us to follow the Lord fully. We must in a course of obedience to God’s will, and service to his honor, follow him universally, without dividing; uprightly, with out dissembling; cheerfully, without disputing; arid constantly, without declining: and this is following him fully. — Matthew Henry.
A disciple of Christ is one that gives up himself to be wholly at Christ’s disposing; to learn what he teaches, to believe what he reveals, to do what he commands, to avoid what he forbids, to suffer what is inflicted by him or for him, in expectation of that reward which he hath promised. Such a one is a disciple of Christ, and he, and none else, is a Christian. — David Glarkson.
It was thought a wondrous act of condescension when King George III. visited the tent of the dying gipsy woman in Windsor forest, and entered into religious conversation with her. What shall we think of him, who, though he was the King of glory, came down to us, and took our sins and sorrows upon himself, that he might bring us into fellowship with himself for ever?
A little child hearing others speak of the Lord
Jesus, asked, “Father, was it our Jesus? In the same sweet simplicity of faith let us speak of “Jesus our Lord.”
Some years ago, an aged minister, who had long and lovingly known Christ, was on his death-bed. Memory had gone. In relation to those he loved best it was a perfect blank. But some one whispered in his ear, “Brother, do you know Jesus Christ?” With a voice of rapture he exclaimed,
“Jesus, my Lord! I know his name;
His name is all my trust;
Nor will he put my hope to shame,
Nor let my soul be lost.”