Why Jesus Christ is Lord of All

Introduction

Billions of people had their lives radically changed when confronted with the Lordship of this Jesus. Who is this man who changed the world 2000 years ago? What does it mean that Jesus is Lord? Why does nearly 1/3 of the world's population claim that Jesus Christ is Lord over ALL? Let us reason together to answer those questions.

Who is Jesus?

Historically, Jesus of Nazareth (commonly called Jesus Christ) was born in Bethlehem, located in modern-day Palestine, circa 5 B.C. He has been mentioned in historical documents throughout the millennia by those who came to follow Him. Roman and Jewish historians also mentioned him within decades of His life and death.

Contrary to popular thought, the fact that Jesus of Nazareth was a historical figure is not debatable among serious historians. The debate truly comes into the historical discussion, is whether or not Jesus was the "Christ."

Most people do not know this, but Christ is not Jesus' last name. It is a title that bears historical significance in the Middle-Eastern world in which He was born. Christ comes from a Greek word that means "anointed one."

When Alexander the Great conquered the Middle East in the 530s B.C., the Jewish culture in Judea began to adopt many parts of Greek culture in order to get along in the new society that ruled over them. This process is commonly called Hellenization. During this period, the Hebrews translated their religious texts into Greek to preserve and disseminate them among themselves more easily.

They used this Greek word meaning "the anointed one" to replace the Hebrew word "Messiah." In their essence, Christ and Messiah are now interchangeable words. The Jewish Messiah was a figure in the Jewish Scriptures (now called the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, or Tanakh by modern Judaism practitioners).

The prophecy said the Messiah was to come and save Israel's people from their oppressors. The Jewish people expected a great king to come from God and liberate them from their oppressors. From ancient times, they waited with hope for the time when this Messiah revealed themselves, and He would take his place on the throne to make all things right.

The Historic Jesus fit the picture for the prophecies of this Jewish Messiah. However, he was rejected by the Jewish authorities because, in many ways, He came as a prophet against them. This rejection ultimately led to His brutal death by crucifixion. However, during His life, He amassed a massive following of people who believed Him to be the Messiah from God.

This belief was mostly because of the things He taught and the miracles He performed. He healed the sick, cast out demons, and even raised a few people from the dead. The belief that He was the Christ grew until nearly 1/3 of all the world claims some belief of that today.

How can His claim to Kingship be substantiated after His death? He did not stay dead! He rose back to life and was seen alive after his death by His closest followers, at least one of His enemies, and even 500 others at one time (1 Cor 15:3-9). His followers who saw Him alive after His death went into all the world to spread His teaching and the news that Jesus is the Christ.

What does it mean that Jesus is Lord?

Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is Messiah. Jesus is Lord. These statements are almost synonymous but do have distinct meanings. The Lordship of Jesus breaks down into at least four parts. There are many uses for the word Lord in the Bible. The categories of Jesus' Lordship are:

• Jesus as Teacher
• Jesus as Master
• Jesus as King
• Jesus as God

Jesus as Teacher

This usage comes from the fact that the word translated as Lord was used similarly to the English word "Sir." People who were of higher status, such as teachers, were often called Lord.

This reference was a sign of respect for the position of the individual. In the same way, Jesus was called Rabbi, which is a Hebrew name for a teacher. Jesus taught an extraordinary message and in an extraordinary way.

In fact, after his most famous sermon, The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), it is reported that "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." (Matthew 7:28-29).

Jesus taught of everlasting life, rebirth, spiritual realities, and what it means to be God's people. He also exemplified a life of love for God's people, strangers, neighbors, and even his enemies. As the son of God, Jesus lived a perfect. As the prototypical man, Jesus gave us an example of a life lived as God intended from the very beginning. The prolific Christian author C.S. Lewis in one of his most well-known books Mere Christianity said:

"To have Faith in Christ means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to Heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside you."

Jesus came into the world with a message. As a supernaturally wise teacher, Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

Jesus as Master

This usage of the word Master or Lord can be challenging for us in the 21st century to comprehend. It is due to the widely known reality of the horrible nature of slavery and its mainstream eradication from western society.

The Bible teaches that Jesus redeemed us from our slavery to sin by purchasing us with his own life. He bought all whom He came to save from their horrible previous master. Most of us think of ourselves as entirely free persons, but the Bible teaches that whatever we submit to that makes us just like slaves to it.

Jesus lays claim on all whom he came to save. Through Jesus, they may be snatched out of slavery and be free to live just as our Creator intended.

Apostle Paul said, "You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

In recognition of this, Jesus' closest followers think of themselves as servants of God through the Lord Jesus. What is interesting about this servitude is that it is voluntary. Jesus does not refer to His followers as servants but rather as friends (John 15:15).

This servitude with Jesus as Master is entered into willingly, recognizing service to Him as the most valuable thing one can do with his or her free life. As a divinely benevolent master, Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

Jesus as King

Even in recent history, the word Lord addressed Kings of nations. God has positioned Jesus as King over all creation.

With Philippians 2:9-11 in his sight Dr. Roger D. Wilmore in "The Lordship of Christ" wrote, "Jesus came from heaven to earth, contracted Himself to the measure of a virgin's womb, was born in Bethlehem, lived a perfect life and died on a cross an atoning sacrificial death, was buried in a tomb and was raised victoriously, and ascended into heaven to occupy His throne in Glory where God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name."

It is the clear teaching of the Bible that Jesus reigns over everything and everyone. His reign from the Heavens will be made fully manifest at the end of the age when "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11). As the only true God-King in all of history, Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

Jesus as God

This usage of the word Lord is probably the most common in western society but obscure to those who are not very familiar with the Bible. In the Christian Bible, the word LORD (in capitals just like that) signifies God's divine name revealed to Moses at the burning bush.

This tradition was continued from the Jewish tradition that the divine name was too sacred to be uttered, and so they would replace the divine name with the Hebrew word Adonai (meaning "My Lord"). This usage carried on into the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible with the Greek word Kurios (Lord).

Many times in the Bible referred to Jesus to be God in the flesh. He did this with a little bit of obscurity, allowing the hearers to connect themselves instead of outright saying it. It is noticeable when the Jewish authorities picked up stones to kill him for blasphemy, such as in the story found in John 8:48-59.

The Bible teaches us that Jesus is God and that Jesus is the Son of God. This theme was hashed out further in the old creeds by teaching God as a trinitarian God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Trinity comes from triune, which comes from tri-unity.

In an article titled, Why Jesus is Lord, the author from allaboutjesuschrist.org begins to answer this question with an important distinction: "Jesus Christ claimed to be the Son of God; a Savior for all people who choose to believe in Him." God in the flesh in the person of Jesus shows us that the Creator of the universe did not only create us and leave us to our own devices but rather is intimately concerned with humanity's dealings. God became like His creature, living and dying just as we live and die. Truly God and indeed man, Jesus is Lord.

Why does nearly 1/3 of the world claim that Jesus is Lord of All?

The most compelling evidence that Jesus is Lord of all is that He walked out of His own grave. The resurrection of Jesus, if true, is the most important thing that has ever happened in human history. Especially because Jesus' teachings become unquestionably verified by His resurrection, if it is not true, then all of Christianity has been worthless, and we are still without hope. Confidence in the teachings about everlasting life and salvation becomes even more potent when Jesus proved His dominion over death.

There have been many spiritual teachers in the world and many famous kings, but every single one has one obvious problem. None of them escaped death; they all remain in their graves to this day. Jesus stood alone in this and was seen by over 500 eyewitnesses, some of whom had every reason to hope that He would not return from the dead. When a man accomplishes the utterly impossible and immediately after claims that, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18), there is something deep inside of me that believes Him.