My Lord

Involved in the above expression is a personal appropriation of an essential statement concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever else the Saviour is – He is Lord, Phil. 2. 11; and what He is universallyHeispersonallytothe apostle Paul “Yes, furthermore I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege – the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth and supreme advantage – of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ, the Anointed One”, Phil. 3. 8, Amplified New Testament.

It is interesting to note that this expression “my Lord” occurs in the New Testament in connection with:

The Incarnation. Elizabeth being filled with the Holy Spirit expresses her amazement and humility in the words, “And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”, Luke 1. 43. Elizabeth’s son was to be great, v. 15, but in these words is seen One who eclipses John the Baptist, for by divine revelation Elizabeth is given to see that Mary’s unborn Child is far more than merely human. The mystery of the Lord’s wonderful Person which baffled the religious leaders of His day, Matt. 22. 44; Mark 12. 36; Luke 20. 42; Psa. 110. 1, is here expressed by this devout woman before He entered onto His public ministry. Who can fully comprehend the truth of the remarkable union of Deity and humanity in one Person? Hallelujah, what a Saviour! There is that about Him which is beyond explanation. “My Lord” is the answer to the difficulty.

The Crucifixion. Mary Magdalene had been at the cross and eventually made her way to the tomb. She discovered the stone taken away from the tomb and she expressed in words of despair to the angels, “they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him’, John 20.13. We see her grief in these words and yet at the same time she uses the expression “my Lord” and how worthy of her trust He proved to be is seen in the succeeding verses of the chapter. It could be that we may have been driven to despair through some tragedy in our lives. “My Lord” is the answer to despair.

The Resurrection. The Lord had appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, but Thomas was not with them. The other disciples explain that they have seen the Lord but Thomas will not accept their testimony and demands the proof of the resurrection of the Saviour. How the Lord proved His victory over death to His doubting disciple! Thomas is confronted with the unmistakable proof of the Lord’s resurrection and exclaims, “My Lord and my God”, John 20. 28. How can He be alive after the horrors of the cross? The answer is given by these words of Thomas! Have we doubts and fears that rob us of joy and usefulness for Christ? “My Lord” is the answer to doubt.

The Ascension. The One who came from heaven to die on the cross has been raised from the dead and has ascended back to heaven, Acts 2. 32-35. It was Paul’s earnest desire to become more and more taken up with Him. Paul’s privileges and achievements counted for nothing when put against “the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord”, Phil. 3. 8. The ‘surpassingness’ of knowing Him eclipsed every other consideration.

May we like Paul, beyond the difficulties, possible despair and doubt, be desirous of going on to spiritual maturity which can only be realized by an increasing knowledge of Christ, the ascended Lord. “My Lord” calls for devotion.