Estes Echo
Jesus—Savior, Lord, King & Servant
As we prepare our thoughts, for the 80th annual FHU Lectureship week, consider these words from Brother David Sproule in 2008:
The angel Gabriel came to Mary and announced to her the favor that she had found in the sight of God, to bring forth and raise the Son of God. The role which Gabriel emphasized that God’s Son would have was that of a King. “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:32-33). Jesus is our Lord and King! He is the ruler. His word must be obeyed.
After Mary was found to be with child, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to explain the miraculous and wonderful events that were taking place, telling him that the Child “conceived in [Mary] is of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:20). The role which this angel emphasized that the Son of God would have was that of a Savior. “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).
Even the earthly name chosen for the Son of God (Jesus) literally means, “Savior.” Jesus is our Savior! He died for us. His blood, shed in His selfless, perfect sacrifice, can save all who obey Him. Most religious people today want to focus solely on Jesus being their Savior. While this truth is emphasized heavily in the Bible, some today want to take the emphasis to an unhealthy level where they either forget or perhaps even ignore that He is THE Lord and King whom we must obey (cf. John 12:48; Col. 3:17; Heb. 5:8-9). To focus on one aspect of the Son of God to the neglect of other Biblical emphases is to miss the whole picture (thereby, misunderstanding it and possibly misrepresenting it).
One of the great positions that the Son of God took while on Earth was that of a Servant. If one misses this part of the picture, his portrait of Jesus is incomplete. For those men who spent the most time with Him, this quality apparently stood out in their minds. As Peter and John preached in Jerusalem and before the Sanhedrin, they referred to Jesus, no less than four times, as “His Servant Jesus” (Acts 3:13, 26) and “Your holy Servant Jesus” (4:27, 30). Jesus not only served His fellow man (Matt. 20:28; John 13:1-17), but Jesus was the Servant of God (John 4:34; 9:4; Heb. 5:8). Jesus is our example of a servant!
I need Jesus as the Savior. I must obey Him as the Lord and King. I ought to imitate Him as the Servant.
By David Sproule, Sunday, 27 January 2008 (borrowed from the Palm Beach Lakes Church of Christ Website
http://www.pblcoc.org/2008-Bulletin-Articles/jesussavior-lord-king-a-servant
