As for Lord, in the OT it is the English translation of ʾādôn, sometimes referring to God but also to people of high rank. This word is about authority.
When referring to God, “Lord” is a title. It may be understood as “Master” and is often coupled with Lord in the phrase “the Lord, the Lord almighty” to emphasize His power and authority.
In the NT, Lord can be translated from “despotes” meaning the human right and power to command, but the word that describes God is “kyrios” meaning much the same in the secular sense of master or owner or employer, even husband as a title of respect. It is sometimes translated “sir” and used to address angels. The NT is filled with phrases like “the Spirit of the Lord” or “the word of the Lord” in line with many OT patterns about God.
When Christians say that “Jesus is Lord” we are recognizing He has dominion over the world. We know that one day every created being will acknowledge this reality:
Philippians 2:8–11. And being found in human form, (Jesus) 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.
The name of Jesus is powerful. We sing that, yet there are times when it becomes vividly evident. When we talk about God, people are polite, some listen. But when we use the name of Jesus, there is a different reaction. On one occasion, just saying “You need Jesus” delivered a woman struggling against demonic lies.
Even now, things like this happen because, without most people realizing it, the world is subject to the lordship of Jesus Christ. He rules as “King of kings and Lord of lords” because He is seated at Yahweh’s right hand.
Ephesians 1:19–23. “ . . . according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
1 Peter 3:21–22. “. . . through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.”
At times I wonder at the patience of God in allowing evil, even wondering if evil has more power. However, Jesus’ shows His authority even in this perplexity. He can use the so-called freedom of sinners to accomplish a great deliverance. This is illustrated in the OT narratives of the Exodus, of Joseph’s life and how God used the sin of his brothers for good, and in the NT His own story. The so-called authorities of His day killed Him, and in doing so, sin and death were conquered as Jesus rose from the dead in great victory. Because of that ‘evil’ we can be forgiven and have everlasting life!
GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Jesus governs all that is going on, even in this pandemic-stricken mess in the world. Each life, each death is in His power. We are all terminal — yet He controls when I will die. This is covered by His authority. His promises and His lordship guarantee my future. When I focus on Him, contentment and joy fill my heart. Because of His life, death and resurrection, and because He lives in me, I have everlasting life and no fear of death. I spend my days with Him now and will spend all of eternity with Him. His grace to me means I can gladly declare that Jesus is King of kings and that He is Lord of all.
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