Jesus is Lord
Last week, I mentioned that the earliest Christian Creed was “Jesus is Lord.” In Greek, it's transliterated as “Kyrios Khristós” or “Kyrios Iēsoûs,” depending on the source. These mean “Christ is Lord” and “Jesus is Lord,” respectively. This week's passage, Philippians 2:3-11, is likely the second-oldest Christian Creed we have, and it forms the foundation of my personal theology and faith. I might write a lengthy, detailed book about it someday, but I'll keep this brief. While we don't know the exact age of this Creed or its author, we know Paul is quoting it, and the church in Philippi would have recognized it as well, which gives it its importance. The Creed explains why Jesus deserves the title “Lord” and why He merits our praise and trust. Therefore, the key term this week is “Kyrios,” or Lord, and we are going to do a brief word study today. Therefore, before exploring why Jesus is worthy of this title, we should understand what this word meant to early Christians.
Now that I know we have at least one landlord in our church community, I will try to be considerate here, but I must admit, I have never had a ‘nice’ landlord. Landlords are generally not known for their kindness. If you've ever rented an apartment or house, was your landlord-tenant relationship smooth? Even among homeowners with HOA, God rest your soul, do you have a good relationship with your HOA chair? When I lived with my parents in college, I didn’t pay rent, but tensions occasionally arose because it was their house. We all have people who hold some form of power over us, in one way or another. They may not have, or go by the title, but the power and influence remain. There are still those who go by the title of ‘lord’ in our world. Over in another country, many titles have been handed down through generations, but they hold only a small part of the power they once had. In our own nation, as I said, we have people who may not have the term, but certainly possess the quality. Families with wealth and power passed on through generations. The Kardashian family and the Kennedys are the two that come to mind immediately. As much as we think we have moved on from that tradition, we just rebranded it from monarchy to capitalism.
In Paul’s era, “Kyrios” was a multifaceted term, just as it remains today. The word "Lord" held various meanings depending on community and context. Usually, it signified "master" or "owner" in daily life, applied to household heads, landowners, governors, and slave owners as a sign of respect for their elevated status. Here, the term is non-religious; it merely mirrors the typical social hierarchy of the time. Something that we think we have escaped, but we most certainly have not.
By the first century, the term “Kyrios” also acquired political and divine meanings. Following the decline of the Roman Republic and the ascent of emperors, it was used for emperors to denote supreme authority. As the Imperial Cult grew, “Kyrios” also began to symbolize the emperor’s divinity, meaning that "Lord" for the emperor signified not only authority but also divinity. The emperors were gods.
Within the Jewish community, the term “Kyrios” also held divine importance, but in a very different way. The “Septuagint,” the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures, was produced around the 3rd or 2nd century BCE. The origins of this translation are quite fascinating. The Septuagint used the Greek word “Kyrios" to refer to YHWH, God's name. This usage was not meant to attribute divinity to any human but to the divine itself, marking a departure from the typical Greek use of the term. This Greek version of the Hebrew Scriptures was the standard for both Jews and Christians for many years before and after the time of Jesus. Some Eastern Orthodox churches still rely on the Septuagint today. Western Christianity, however, does not use it, partly because it is not considered a very accurate translation.
In summary: “Kyrios” represented personal, political, and divine authority simultaneously, depending on the audience. Interestingly for us, getting a bit ahead of myself here, is that Jesus fulfills all three meanings. Jesus is Lord personally, politically, and divinely. But what are the reasons and mechanisms behind this?
Why is Jesus considered worthy of the title “Lord”? Paul, in an early creed, provides a list. Jesus, who is divine, has the power of God but chose to set it aside to become one with us. Not as a ‘lord’ or ‘master’ or ‘craftsman,’ but as Paul describes, “the form of a slave.” Jesus was among the least, last, and lost, and chose that path over personal glory. This humility led him to die on the cross, bearing the sins of the world. Because of this humility and his willingness to sacrifice, God raised him up as worthy of praise and thanksgiving. This is what makes him worthy of being called “Lord,” because of what he has done for us. The true meaning of “Lord” isn’t self-centered; perhaps there’s a slight hint of that. A Lord also has the duty to care for those under their authority. A landlord, for example, has the power to oversee and also to help when needed. Privilege entails responsibility for others.
What do we mean when we say Jesus is Lord? Essentially, it signifies that Jesus should have personal authority over us and our way of life, that He surpasses any earthly power now or ever to come, and that He is divine, providing us with redeeming grace. Take a moment to absorb this. If we confess Jesus as Lord, He is before and above almost everything around us and within our lives. Declaring Jesus as Lord means He is first; everything else follows. Can we honestly claim that Jesus is first? Aside from Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30, how often do we truly put Him first? Even then, how many times have we wished the service wouldn't go past 10:30? That we sang too many verses or that the sermon was too long; we have other plans. I admit I do this myself in the pews. Jesus is Lord, but the teachings on loving our neighbor are fine in principle, though we sometimes believe those people don't deserve it. We proclaim Jesus as Lord on Sunday, but on Monday, money becomes our Lord. For Jesus to be Lord truly means He comes first; no exceptions, period.
If that wasn’t challenging enough, Paul goes further, saying we are to live in the same mind as Jesus. That makes this whole thing even harder to live out. To use the power and privilege we have, which come from God and God alone, not for selfish benefit but for the sake of others. We are called to be those who serve, not those who are served. That way of life flips the world we know upside down. These are the opposite of the values we have been taught by society. But to say Jesus is Lord is to live like Jesus. To feed the hungry. Heal the sick. Comfort the grieving. To seek out the least, last, and lost. To fight injustice in any way that it presents itself. To sacrifice. To forgive when it seems impossible.
Why do this? Two reasons. First, Paul and Jesus told you to. That should already be enough. Jesus says, we do. Kind of simple. Second, because God has already done these things for you, it is only right that we pass them on to others. Especially when we don’t feel they deserve it or have earned it, because we don’t either.
Saying Jesus is Lord, meaning it and believing it, changes you. It shapes you and makes you more like Jesus. The Good News is that we do not face it alone. We go on this journey together and hold one another accountable.
Are you willing to say it, to mean it, to believe it? Then come and grow.
Now that I know we have at least one landlord in our church community, I will try to be considerate here, but I must admit, I have never had a ‘nice’ landlord. Landlords are generally not known for their kindness. If you've ever rented an apartment or house, was your landlord-tenant relationship smooth? Even among homeowners with HOA, God rest your soul, do you have a good relationship with your HOA chair? When I lived with my parents in college, I didn’t pay rent, but tensions occasionally arose because it was their house. We all have people who hold some form of power over us, in one way or another. They may not have, or go by the title, but the power and influence remain. There are still those who go by the title of ‘lord’ in our world. Over in another country, many titles have been handed down through generations, but they hold only a small part of the power they once had. In our own nation, as I said, we have people who may not have the term, but certainly possess the quality. Families with wealth and power passed on through generations. The Kardashian family and the Kennedys are the two that come to mind immediately. As much as we think we have moved on from that tradition, we just rebranded it from monarchy to capitalism.
In Paul’s era, “Kyrios” was a multifaceted term, just as it remains today. The word "Lord" held various meanings depending on community and context. Usually, it signified "master" or "owner" in daily life, applied to household heads, landowners, governors, and slave owners as a sign of respect for their elevated status. Here, the term is non-religious; it merely mirrors the typical social hierarchy of the time. Something that we think we have escaped, but we most certainly have not.
By the first century, the term “Kyrios” also acquired political and divine meanings. Following the decline of the Roman Republic and the ascent of emperors, it was used for emperors to denote supreme authority. As the Imperial Cult grew, “Kyrios” also began to symbolize the emperor’s divinity, meaning that "Lord" for the emperor signified not only authority but also divinity. The emperors were gods.
Within the Jewish community, the term “Kyrios” also held divine importance, but in a very different way. The “Septuagint,” the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures, was produced around the 3rd or 2nd century BCE. The origins of this translation are quite fascinating. The Septuagint used the Greek word “Kyrios" to refer to YHWH, God's name. This usage was not meant to attribute divinity to any human but to the divine itself, marking a departure from the typical Greek use of the term. This Greek version of the Hebrew Scriptures was the standard for both Jews and Christians for many years before and after the time of Jesus. Some Eastern Orthodox churches still rely on the Septuagint today. Western Christianity, however, does not use it, partly because it is not considered a very accurate translation.
In summary: “Kyrios” represented personal, political, and divine authority simultaneously, depending on the audience. Interestingly for us, getting a bit ahead of myself here, is that Jesus fulfills all three meanings. Jesus is Lord personally, politically, and divinely. But what are the reasons and mechanisms behind this?
Why is Jesus considered worthy of the title “Lord”? Paul, in an early creed, provides a list. Jesus, who is divine, has the power of God but chose to set it aside to become one with us. Not as a ‘lord’ or ‘master’ or ‘craftsman,’ but as Paul describes, “the form of a slave.” Jesus was among the least, last, and lost, and chose that path over personal glory. This humility led him to die on the cross, bearing the sins of the world. Because of this humility and his willingness to sacrifice, God raised him up as worthy of praise and thanksgiving. This is what makes him worthy of being called “Lord,” because of what he has done for us. The true meaning of “Lord” isn’t self-centered; perhaps there’s a slight hint of that. A Lord also has the duty to care for those under their authority. A landlord, for example, has the power to oversee and also to help when needed. Privilege entails responsibility for others.
What do we mean when we say Jesus is Lord? Essentially, it signifies that Jesus should have personal authority over us and our way of life, that He surpasses any earthly power now or ever to come, and that He is divine, providing us with redeeming grace. Take a moment to absorb this. If we confess Jesus as Lord, He is before and above almost everything around us and within our lives. Declaring Jesus as Lord means He is first; everything else follows. Can we honestly claim that Jesus is first? Aside from Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30, how often do we truly put Him first? Even then, how many times have we wished the service wouldn't go past 10:30? That we sang too many verses or that the sermon was too long; we have other plans. I admit I do this myself in the pews. Jesus is Lord, but the teachings on loving our neighbor are fine in principle, though we sometimes believe those people don't deserve it. We proclaim Jesus as Lord on Sunday, but on Monday, money becomes our Lord. For Jesus to be Lord truly means He comes first; no exceptions, period.
If that wasn’t challenging enough, Paul goes further, saying we are to live in the same mind as Jesus. That makes this whole thing even harder to live out. To use the power and privilege we have, which come from God and God alone, not for selfish benefit but for the sake of others. We are called to be those who serve, not those who are served. That way of life flips the world we know upside down. These are the opposite of the values we have been taught by society. But to say Jesus is Lord is to live like Jesus. To feed the hungry. Heal the sick. Comfort the grieving. To seek out the least, last, and lost. To fight injustice in any way that it presents itself. To sacrifice. To forgive when it seems impossible.
Why do this? Two reasons. First, Paul and Jesus told you to. That should already be enough. Jesus says, we do. Kind of simple. Second, because God has already done these things for you, it is only right that we pass them on to others. Especially when we don’t feel they deserve it or have earned it, because we don’t either.
Saying Jesus is Lord, meaning it and believing it, changes you. It shapes you and makes you more like Jesus. The Good News is that we do not face it alone. We go on this journey together and hold one another accountable.
Are you willing to say it, to mean it, to believe it? Then come and grow.