What Does It Mean?

What does it mean to know God as Adonai?  As we think about that today, let's look first at Isaiah 6.  Isaiah saw the Lord seated on His throne.  He saw Him as Adonai.  And he responded in obedience. 
Look at Isaiah 6:1-8, especially at verse 8.  When the Lord was looking for someone to send, for an obedient servant, Isaiah responded, "Here I am, send me."

When Jeremiah was called by God to be a prophet (see Jeremiah 1), it was Jehovah who called and appointed him.  But when Jeremiah responded to that call, he addressed God as Adonai, "Alas, Lord God."  Literally, he was saying "Adonai Jehovah."

The point is this:  if God is God, then He must be Adonai - He must be Master.  And if that truth pertains to God the Father, then does it not also pertain to God the Son?  This is clearly the teaching of the New Testament.  There are many who will acknowledge Jesus as a good man or even acknowledge Him as a prophet, but refuse to acknowledge Him as God.  We're going to spend some time in the New Testament today, examining this truth.....that Jesus is Lord.

Before we go to the Scriptures, let me give you some information about the word "lord".  The Old Testament word we have been looking at, Adonai, is Hebrew.  The New Testament was written in Greek.  There are two words used in the New Testament for "lord".  One of these words is kurios, which means "supreme in authority", and it is this word that is used most often in reference to Jesus.  The other word, despostes, which means just what it looks like it would mean, "an absolute ruler."

Read the following Scriptures carefully.  What do you learn about Jesus?  What is He Lord over?  What is required of us?

• Philippians 2:10-11
• Luke 14:25-27
• Matthew 10:34-40
• John 13:13-16
• Romans 10:8-10
• Matthew 7:21-27
• Romans 6:16-17

So, what does all this mean?  Or to ask the question another way, what does the Scripture teach about who Jesus is?  Is He Adonai?  Is He your Adonai?