Whose Lord is Jesus?

Why is Jesus identified as “Lord of Lords” and “King of Kings”? (Rev 19:16). Why not the “Lord of the world” or “King of the world”? When Jesus walked on earth, only His disciples called Him “Lord.” The Lordship’s secret is hidden from the entire world. The mystified ones will always behave similarly to the crucifiers of Jesus on the cross.

Before unpacking the Lordship mystery, let us first appreciate the enigmatic aspect, across this sinful world. Those identified as Jesus’ brothers are also Lords. Blessed are they that know those people, just as those who knew Jesus, as Lord, were blessed.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.  “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:12-17 NIV).

The majority of Christians are caught up in between knowledge and ignorance. They assume that the term “Lord of Lords” confers power on Jesus, ahead of the world rulers. This describes the zealots, unwilling to review different ideas, except adopting what comes from their leaders.

The most dangerous thing is calling Jesus; “Lord,” when not convicted of that reality. Nothing appears amiss, until one scrutinizes Scriptures, to realize how dangerous it can be to fall into that trap. Jesus is Lord, only to those identifying with His teachings.

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” (Matthew 25:41-45 NIV).

This is profound; but very true. Those described here, would not be qualified to call Jesus, “Lord”. The ones qualified to call Jesus, “Lord” are those whom Jesus identifies as His brothers. The most difficult thing is to identify those people, even in our time.

It is impossible for those of this world to know the brothers of Jesus. They are not, ordinarily, known in this world. When Jesus asked His disciples how ordinary people identified His personality; the reply revealed that ordinary people are characterized in inaccuracy.

After Peter precisely identified Him, Jesus declared that flesh and blood had not revealed the mystery. The significance of that mysticism is what describes the formation of His Church. Jesus later instructed His disciples to hide the secret from ordinary people (Matthew 16:13-20).

Before leaving, Jesus told His disciples that the world would not see Him again, but the disciples would see Him. They would have the privilege of seeing Jesus, even though ordinarily unseen by those, also unable to know His disciples. Ordinary people cannot identify His disciples (John 14:12-21).

The name of Jesus is common across the world. But most of those “Christians” are not qualified to call Jesus, “Lord”. The Lordship of Jesus is mysterious, and unknown by ordinary people. Those privileged to call Jesus, “Lord” cannot do so, casually.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV).

Most of those known “Christians,” may not be qualified to call Jesus, “Lord.” Jesus is the “Lord of Lords,” and not the Lord of ordinary people, in their sinful endeavours. The only qualification for calling Jesus, “Lord,” deserving to be regarded as a stable datum; is keeping His commandments.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:46-49 NIV).

As far as Jesus is concerned, calling Him, “Lord,” when not obeying His commandments, is criminal. This is straightforward; but very complicated to those entangled in deceitful conditions. No one is allowed to call Jesus, “Lord,” when not committed to His teachings.

The only way to come out of the myriad of such confusion is to disentangle one’s connection with denominationalism. The comfort that comes with belonging to a denomination, appears devastatingly dangerous. Safety is found in Jesus, and not in some denomination.

This is understandably hard to sell, but truthful, nevertheless. When one is baptized in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, how does a denomination come in? The illustration of this point, as supporting this assertion, can be found in the Book of Acts.

This is projected in the ministerial activities of the apostle Philip. He was led by the Holy Spirit to meet an Ethiopian eunuch, struggling with some Scripture. After baptism, the eunuch went his way and never met Philip again. Nothing reveals what later became of the eunuch, after that development.

As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again but went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:36-39 NIV).

I suppose the denominational advocates would come up with various spins, explaining this development? As far as denominational advocates are concerned, it is a serious crime to worship outside the framework of some denomination. Sadly, only their pastor is accorded respect, where the rest are expected to obey the pastor; disregarding what Jesus implicitly taught in Scriptures:

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.  And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.  Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.  The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:8-12 NIV).

Strangely, Jesus’ words appear as not considered reverently, by Christians, in general. No wonder why the services of theologians are regarded more than the teachings of Jesus. But, this phenomenon is consistent with the pattern by which God’s Church is identified. See [God’s Church is revealed by its secrecy]

Many of those calling themselves “Christians” are very comfortable, impressing their pastors, rather than apply the words of Jesus, whom they cannot see. This is as observable as can be viewed by objective thinkers. It is confirmed in the datum: “they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven” (Mark 4:12 NIV).

Ordinary humans seek to please their peers, more than please Jesus. No wonder why Jesus promised them hell; “Away from me, you evil-doers. I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:21). It appears unfair for Jesus to treat such naïve worshippers in that manner. But, what other treatment do such fools deserve?

There is neither danger in truth nor in falsehood. Similarly, there is neither danger in knowledge nor in ignorance. The danger remains in between those two dichotomies. Anything in between is very attractive to pretenders or untruthful people, as confirmed by Jesus:

 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 

“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich, and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness, and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:14-21 NIV).

The reason for spitting those people is not complicated. When carefully examining their conduct, anyone can feel sick. They conveniently choose to be somewhere in between, for purposes of their own safety. Some of those in their rankings, assume that hating those not agreeing with them, is projecting the aspect of being “hot”.

They behave like ZANU PF thugs, using machetes to hack down those disagreeing with their ideology. Those youths do so, as considering themselves faithful cadres of the party. In their myopic reasoning, they don’t even stop to imagine how they would feel if treated similarly?

This described what is commonly found between knowledge and ignorance. There is comfort in being lukewarm, even though remaining in bondage. Those carrying out such savage acts are commonly not benefitting from ZANU PF’s corrupt activities.

They are used as pawns on a chase board. To them, what is important is to impress their superiors, although receiving nothing in return. They are not even prepared to evaluate their actions. They assume that their “superiors” are not supposed to receive criticism from juniors.

Those outside that system know, exactly, how disgusting such behaviour is, as attracting the analogous “spitting;” in Revelation 3:16; “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” The behaviour of such Christians is as disgusting as observed among ZANU PF supporters.

Their leaders are often blamed for such heinous actions. Interestingly, ZANU PF youths, draw their support from a bunch of myopic Christians, threatened with spitting from the Lord’s mouth. It is self-centeredness that makes them behave in that manner.

They zealously worship God for the purpose of receiving “blessings.” The idea of going to heaven, leaving everyone burning in hell, motivates them more than applying Jesus’ teachings. God is incensed by such foolish conduct.

Those, not pretending to be hot, but acknowledging being cold, are safe. The threat of spitting is only against those appearing as committed to worshipping God, but being ravenous beasts that God is extremely angry about. What is so discouraging is that such people may never access truthful material, until they die. Serve for God’s grace, visiting them.

In their denominational enclaves, exists gatekeepers; ensuring the inaccessibility to truthful information. Those gatekeepers behave like ZANU PF leaders, admonishing their supporters to avoid reading any material from the opposition camps.

ZANU PF ought to be credited, though, for ingenuity. They know which side their bread is buttered. They approach the so-called “spiritual leaders.” Give them some cash and other pecks, before requesting them to use Scriptures, persuading their followers to endorse ZANU PF. This is shameful, though, but true.

Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. In a simple conversational tone, most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope.

The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99

Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com  for $6.99