Jesus as Lord Red – Answer Questions | Blue – Read Scripture It’s a key concept in the New Testament, Jesus is Lord, but it’s not easy for us to grasp. Centuries ago, lords and ladies had absolute control over their castle, fields and serfs. Today the North Korean president Kim Jong-un is Supreme Leader over his country. A Canadian judge is called M’lord in a court of law. He or she has considerable power over everyone in the courtroom, including the accused. Imagine: Jesus is Lord of all. (Discuss what it means that Jesus is Lord; how you came to realize it, your struggles, your surrender. Help a disciple see how essential Lordship is.) Defining Lordship Come up with a working definition together. (Include ideas of control over territory/people, power to determine what happens, authority, etc.) Lordship means giving unconditional obedience to someone. (Illustrate biblically, i.e., Saul at conversion, “What do you want me to do, Lord?” Acts 22.8-10) What are you lord of? (Your body, relationships, plans, etc.; sometimes it’s very limited control). Are you absolute lord of anything? (Perhaps your thoughts? Perhaps not. Discuss how challenging it is to give control over thoughts, our decisions, emotions, passions, habits to Jesus.) What is Jesus Lord over? The universe: Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. (Colossians 1:15-16) (How does this change your opinion of Jesus? Why doesn’t the scientific community recognize him?) The invisible world: He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities [that is, the angels and demons] in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16b); On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. (Rev. 19:16) (The world of angels and demons is mysterious for us. What are the implications, that all spiritual beings must submit to Him?) Jesus is Lord of all (Acts 10:36). He demonstrated lordship over: • Sickness: a man with leprosy (Luke 5:12-14); healing from a distance (Luke 7:1-10; John 4:43-54)
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