T |
HE disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? (Matt 10:24-25)
There may be many masters, but one God. We all are subject to a master whether of God Almighty or of the flesh and Mammon. It is the one to whom we join ourselves to whom we are subject. But there is one Master that is above all others – the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Master of Creation and the Author, not only of the Moral Law, but also every law of science and the natural Creation. By His Word, He commanded the heavenly bodies in their orbits, and it was so. He planned even the most intricate laws by which the Universe obeys those natural laws He put into place at the primitive day of His spoken Word.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Architect who, present with the Father and the Holy Spirit, laid the foundation pillars of the earth, moon, and stars. He spoke and it was so. He made the waters and the dry land to be separated and the green grass to appear. He not only created Light for the world and its Universe but is the very essence of Light. In Him there can be no darkness, and neither can the heart devoted to Him as Lord be smothered in spiritual darkness. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:1-5)
The frontal lobe of the brain is the place where our judgment sense is located. Our values and decision are made in that frontal lobe. It is the place that we have been led to either follow God as Master, or the world and its sordid ways as the master of our souls. Despite the prideful words of WE Henley in his poem, INVICTUS, we are NOT the masters of our fate – we are not the captains of our souls.
Christ to us is more than Master. He is Savior, Friend, Brother, Redeemer, and King. His authority exceeds that of the master which is normally limited to a smaller contingent of souls.
Christ is the Master Teacher. His approach to teaching is from the simplest of grounds to higher truths. But even the higher truths of the Gospel are presented in great simplicity – far more understandable to all listeners than some renowned theologian who often is more concerned with making an impression than imparting wisdom and knowledge. We should follow His example in patiently teaching the truths of the Gospel with the simplicity with which He taught. The simple truth is always more easily conveyed to the disciple than a complicated discourse on mountains and mole hills. Do we presume by using vague sophistry that we can teach the Gospel better than He who IS the Gospel? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. (Luke 6:40)
The disciples often referred to our Lord as Master when not only their souls, but their physical bodies were in grave danger. Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him. (Luke 8:22-25)
Like many pulpit scoundrels today, all who called Jesus Master did so with sincerity for their master was the Prince of this world. On the night of His betrayal, Judas betrayed the Lord with a kiss: And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him. (Mark 14:44-45)
Many today appear to march under that unfettered Banner of Love which is Christ, but they are flying false colors. They proclaim Him with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him.
Do you march under, and in, His Banner of Love, or does some other know you as his servant?
