“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” | Ephesians 6: 1-3

It is most grievous to me to hear those who profess to fear, know and love the Lord… refer to Him simply as ‘Jesus.’

It is not intimacy, it is ignorance and irreverence, no matter who does so; though we or an angel from heaven. (Though no angel would do so!)

His disciples did not!

His disciples, who were closer and more intimate with the Lord than anyone, never called Him Jesus but always called Him Lord.

He said they did well in doing so. “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.” (John 13: 13)

I was very intimate with my earthly father but never referred to him as Henry, still don’t.

I had/have too much respect for him.

The unbelieving world refers to the Lord Jesus simply as Jesus.

The devils referred to Him as Jesus – “Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.” (Mark 1: 24)

“And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” (Acts 19: 15)

The Pharisees called Him Jesus.

Some Greek men wanted to ‘see Jesus.’ Well, they never did. He didn’t give them audience. He did not speak to them.

If you want to see the King you must refer to Him as such.

He that cometh to God must believe that He is and must call Him so.

A.W. Pink once said: ‘The Holy Spirit can refer to the Lord Jesus as Jesus in scripture, like the queen can call the king (George) by his first name, but His servants and subjects must always call him King George.’

Paul wrote: ‘We see Jesus, made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death.’

He was a man named Jesus in order to die, but since He died, He is now ‘crowned with glory and honor… high and lifted up… seated in the Heavens and upon hearing the name of Jesus, you are to always call Him LORD Jesus.

Those who truly fear Him, reverence Him and love Him call Him Lord.

‘Lord’ is the name above every name.

Jesus, though a worthy name, a wonderful name, which means savior, is the name of His humanity, His humiliation… another man bore that name… Joshua.

You may refer to Joshua as Jesus, but never as Lord.

No one bears the Name Lord but the Lord of lords.

Every single person in scripture who was called by Him, saved by Him, came to know Him… called Him Lord.

Christ’s Most Intimate Disciples Call Him ‘Lord.’

Listen to brother Matthew Henry’s comment on John the apostle, who was closer and more intimate with the Lord than all the disciples… “He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto Him, Lord who is it?”

“He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?” (John 13: 25)

Though John whispered this in Christ’s ear, yet he called him ‘Lord’; the familiarity he was admitted to did not at all lessen his respect for his Master.

It becomes us to use a reverence in expression, and to observe a decorum even in our secret devotions, (which no eye is a witness to) as well as in public assemblies.

“And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:” (Genesis 18: 27)

The more intimate communion someone has with Christ, the more sensible they are of His worthiness and their own unworthiness, as Abraham, though the friend of God, says, “Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes”.

~ Matthew Henry

Click here to listen to the message “Children, Servants, Masters” (38:32 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 1 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia