~ His Name~
This is the
first post in a new monthly series about Jesus Christ. This time we will look
at the meaning of the “Lord Jesus Christ.” In future posts we will examine
other aspects of Jesus Christ including some of His other names.
Jesus
~ “Jesus” is His Greek common
name, or proper name, and equivalent to His Hebrew name “Jeshua” which means
“The Lord shall save” (Matthew 1:21; Acts 5:31, 13:23). This name is
representative of His work on earth.
It
was a common name in that day and so He was sometimes differentiated by phrases
such as “Jesus the son of Joseph” (John 6:42), and
“Jesus of Nazareth” (John 18:7).
Christ
~ “Christ” is the Greek
translation of the Hebrew “Messiah” and is His official title. It appears well
over 500 times in the New Testament. This name carries the connotation of His
great work of the redemption of mankind through His offices as Prophet, Priest,
and King.
Jesus is the Anointed One, the Christ (Acts 17:3, 18:5; Matthew
22:42). He fulfilled many prophesies throughout the Hebrew Scriptures [note the
Messiah series of posts on ALN]. It is interesting that often when people use
the name Christ they do not realize that they are actually making a confession
of faith in the Anointed One, the Messiah!
Jesus
Christ ~
“Jesus Christ” is the common or natural order. When addressed as “Christ
Jesus” His role as Messiah and his title are emphasized. (A modern example is
“Billy Graham, the evangelist” or to emphasize his role by saying “Evangelist
Billy Graham.”)
Lord Jesus Christ ~ “Lord”
is used by Christians who are proclaiming not only His right to rule over them
but that they have given Him the full control of their lives. When someone
addresses Him as the “Lord Jesus Christ” they are declaring full submission (to
the best of their abilities) to their Savior and that they are in a habit of
giving Him control of all aspects of their life.
In a future
day He will be the Lord of your life and of every life! “For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and
the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for
your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written [in Isaiah 45:23]: ‘As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me, and every
tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us
shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:9-12).
The Name Which Is Above Every Name ~ “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name
which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
the key question:
“Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important question you will
ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made
the biggest mistake anyone can make!
