Jesus is Lord of all . . .

The devotional book that I’m using this year has given much space to the preeminence of Christ. While the author’s words are good, the Lord usually speaks to me a little differently, often from the same Scripture passages. This is also evidence of His Lordship; He knows each human heart and life situation. He knows what His people need to hear on any given day. As I read through today’s passages, these thoughts came to me concerning the evidence God has shown me that Jesus is Lord of all . . .

Death could not hold Him.

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it . . . . Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2: 22–24; 36)

There are other resurrections recorded in the Bible, but all of them were at the command of God’s servants, either prophets or Jesus Christ, yet Jesus rose from the grave without anyone calling Him to come forth. It was simply impossible for the Author of life to stay dead. He is Lord.

He changes the lives of those who believe.

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:1–4)

The Word of God says that when a person believes, they become a new creation. We do not become perfect in this life (our old nature habitually interferes), but change happens, and perfection will be ours in eternity. Others may form new habits or be affected by events that change their value system, but only Jesus Christ can turn hearts from sin and selfishness, that we can consider others more significant than themselves. He is Lord.

He obeyed God completely.

“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)

Not one Christian or anyone else can make this claim of being totally obedient. Only Jesus is totally sinless. Only Jesus is totally worthy of worship for He is unlike anything or anyone else. This is God the Son, the God-man who reveals the Father, who listens to the Spirit, who is without any reason to humble Himself except that God sent Him to earth to do it. He set aside His rights as God and took on human flesh as a baby! He grew and learned obedience through the things He suffered — just like we do. He then did the unthinkable; He took our sin on Himself, bore our guilt and took our punishment by dying for us. Not only that, for those who believe He gives His righteousness, even His very life, that we might live forever. No one else can do that, even if they wanted to. Jesus is Lord.

^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, every morning when I sit down to hear from You, You never disappoint me. Your voice is like a warm blanket, covering my anxious thoughts, and restoring that which so often slips my mind. You get inside my head and tell me exactly what I need to hear, replacing my foolish ideas with Your wisdom, forgiving and comforting that foolishness and telling me again and again that I am Yours and You are mine. You have risen from the dead, and You are at work in this world. Yes, You are Lord of all!