ADVENT BLOG   Named by God - “LORD”

“Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord””

(John 21: 7)

At the start of these reflections I spoke about one of our family names being Robert.  Although it is my given name I have always been called Robbie which, all the way through school, meant that on the first day of a new class with a new teacher I had to put my hand up when my name was read out and say, “It’s Robbie”.

Getting it right is so important when it comes to our name be it the spelling or the pronunciation.  Getting it right with Christ Jesus is important in our understanding of who he is and what that actually means for us in our daily living.

In the Old Testament the title “Lord” was used often but, in three very distinct ways - “lord”, Lord and “LORD”.  At first the significance isn’t quite clear until we understand what the differences are.    The first, “lord” refers to someone in authority, someone to look up to (Genesis 18:12).  There is that healthy sense of awe and wonder in the presence of God when we reflect on who God is in referring to him as “Lord”.  It is often translated from the Hebrew as “adonai”.  “LORD” takes us back to the start of these reflections and the introduction because a common translation of that word is “I AM WHO I AM”.  God who has always been and will always be is to be revered but never feared in a sense of being frightened of him.  He is to be respected as the creator and celebrated as our relational God who is not distant but beside us, around us and within us.

Up until the time of the resurrection the use of this particular title was more or less confined to a sense of devotion - devoted to God and his ways, respectful of who he is and what he does for us.  The resurrection shone new light and deepened people’s understanding in reflecting on his power over creation, over life and over death itself.  He holds power over heaven and earth and can hold us in difficult times as he helps us to get through and beyond.  He is our friend but, never our “pal” in the sense that we are on a par with him.  He is eternal and the one who is eternally with us.

What does “Lord” say to you about Jesus and your relationship with him?  What does it mean to come to him in awe and wonder?  What do you want to say to your Lord today?

Jesus is Lord! Yet from His throne eternal
in flesh He came to die in pain on Calvary ’s tree.
Jesus is Lord! From Him all life proceeding,
yet gave His life a ransom thus setting us free.

Jesus is Lord! O’er sin the mighty conqueror,
from death He rose and all His foes shall own His name.
Jesus is Lord! God sends His Holy Spirit
to show by works of power that Jesus is Lord.

Jesus is Lord!  Jesus is Lord!

Praise Him with ‘Hallelujahs’, for Jesus is Lord!

(David Mansell)