“Jesus Is Lord And The Christ!”

“Jesus Is Lord And The Christ!”
In June 1978 the Committee on Bible Translation concluded their preface to the revised edition of the New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible with these words: “We offer this version of the Bible to him in whose name and for whose glory it has been made. We pray that it will lead many into a better understanding of the Holy Scriptures and a fuller knowledge of Jesus Christ the incarnate Word of whom the Scriptures testify.”
One Sunday a senior pastor went to administer in a distant congregation. He asked a layman to preach in his absence. When he returned the people complained that the sermon was the worst ever. The pastor asked to know if in the sermon the man called on the name of Jesus Christ? The people said he did. The pastor asked a rhetorical question, “If he called the name of Jesus Christ, what else did you want?”
There is a sense in which Scriptures is about enabling readers to have “a fuller knowledge of Jesus Christ the incarnate Word of whom the scriptures testify.” Peter emphasised on this during the first ever sermon that came with pentecostal power after receiving the Holy Spirit. He told the mockers, “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear…Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ “(Acrts 2:29-36).
“Jesus is Lord,” was the first statement of faith and has remained central. He is Lord because he is sitting at the right of the Father while God is making his and our enemies his footstool. He is Christ – Messiah, Anointed One – because with his blood he has redeemed us from the bondage of sin.
Let us never tire of declaring the wonders of God’s amazing grace in our lives in the name of Jesus the Christ and Lord who has poured out the Holy Spirit on us.
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit empower us not to be intimidated by earthly lords but to declare that Jesus the Christ is the only Lord. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!