Nor could he bear to leave the lands of immense distances, the purity of the air, the vast sweep of the mountains, plains and forests, the smell of his lonely campfires, the feeling of a good horse under him, and the song of the lonely winds. It was in his heart now, in his blood and bones, and in all the convulsions of his brain.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Rider of Lost Creek)
Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah”
–Psalm 24:10 (ESV)
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What did Paul and Silas sing while in prison? What was it that caused the bars to shake so hard that they broke open? We know it was the power of God, but was it their singing of His praises that brought it on? Perhaps it was like this little song that is found in Philippians 2:9-11. Some call it the “Hymn on Christ’s Exaltation.”
9 — Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
10 — That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 — And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (NKJV)
I might add here that we need to understand that singing and music has evolved over the years. It was more of a strum on a stringed instrument and then the voice in some sort of tonal quality would recite something. Not quite the advance of the progressive chant of the monks (I’m being facetious).
Look at what is being said in those three verses! Here is power! Here is the rule of the sovereign Lord God Almighty! Here is the recognition of His glory and deity! William Petersen reminds us that “We say the three names–Lord Jesus Christ–very casually, almost as if we were talking about someone named John Henry Doe… But if you were living in the first century, you would realize that there was nothing at all casual about the name.”
Jesus was His given name, the Greek of Joshua. It means “Savior,” and it was not uncommon nor unusual in first-century Israel. Now add to that Christ and the name and meaning changes. He is now Jesus, God’s anointed Messiah. Peter proclaimed, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God’ (Matthew 16:16). The Jews couldn’t quite handle that much less accept it, and it led to His crucifixion.
To add the third name, “Lord,” would also get you into trouble with the Romans and other Gentiles. “Lord” was an imperial title acknowledging the divinity of Caesar. It could have also referred to other deities. The name “Lord” was sacred among the Jews as well. Jews would not use the name of Yahweh as it was considered sacred, so they often used Lord. Now comes the clincher, when Christians spoke of Jesus as Lord they meant He was Deity Himself. (Petersen). Barclay says that “When men worship the Lord Jesus Christ, they fall at His feet in wondering love.” The words of Isaac Watts cause me to tremble in awe, “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my life, my soul, my all.” This is worship “founded, not on fear, but on love.” (Barclay)
To be a Christian, from the first century until now, was to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! A Christian believes that Jesus is who He said He was; it was to believe in the totality of the three names. We need to ask, who/what is Jesus to you? To me? To all? Is He the Messiah, God’s promised Redeemer? Is He the Lord, the divine Son of God? Get it right now! “One day all of creation will bow before Him and acknowledge, with full meaning, that threefold name.” (Petersen)
“One day all creation shall bow to our Lord,
Even now, among angels His name is adored.
May we at His coming, with the glorified throng,
Stand singing His praises in heaven’s great song:
Jesus, Jesus, Savior adored
Of all men and angels, forever our Lord.”
–Dutch Hymn (translated by W. Kuipers)