The Cost of Calling Jesus Lord

Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

What do we mean when we say, 

“Jesus is Lord?” 

More specifically, what do we mean by the word: “Lord?” 

The word “Lord” in the New Testament is the Greek word Kyrios. In other words, in the translation of the Old Testament into Greek, Kyrios is the word used for the name of God. And so, when the apostles confess that Jesus is Lord (Kyrios), they are saying far more than that He is a good teacher, leader, or someone worthy of respect. They are confessing that Jesus is God.

Now, stay with me.  Things become even more interesting when we remember the world in which the New Testament was written. In the Roman Empire, “lord” was a title of authority and power. Kyrios became associated with the emperor himself. In other words, Caesar stood at the top of the political order, surrounded by honor and religious devotion. So to call Caesar “lord” was more than a polite title. It was a confession of loyalty and, at times, religious submission.

This is why the Christian confession of the early church carried so much weight. When Christians said, “Jesus is Lord – Kurios Ihsous,” Christians were not simply adding Jesus to a list of respected rulers. No, when first-century Christians said that Jesus was Lord, they were essentially saying that Caesar was not Lord. Sure, Caesar possessed real earthly authority, and the Christians could honor that, but Caesar was still a man. Caesar was not divine, and he did not stand above Christ. Instead, the Roman Emperor stood beneath the authority of Jesus.

And so, the confession “Jesus is Lord” is not a tame and polite title. It is a dangerous confession. It is a confession that Jesus is the supreme King. Jesus alone has the final claim upon His people. Caesar may rule for a time, but Caesar is not the ultimate Lord. Jesus is. And so, to say, “Jesus is Lord” during the first century was not an empty religious slogan. It was costly.  It took courage to say it.  It could affect your family, your social standing, your livelihood, and sometimes your physical safety. Christians were executed for saying that Jesus was Lord and Caesar was not.   

But what about today? 

We can say, “Jesus is Lord,” without facing the kind of consequences those first Christians faced. And for that religious freedom we should be thankful. But here is the catch! Today’s religious freedom does not make the confession any less serious.

Listen again to Paul from our Epistle Reading in 1 Corinthians: 

“No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” 

Paul is obviously not saying that unbelievers are physically incapable of repeating the words. Anyone can say “Jesus is Lord.” Instead, Paul is saying that nobody can truly confess in faith that “Jesus is Lord” without the power of the Holy Spirit.  

You see, we could put “Jesus is Lord” on T-shirts, bumper stickers, and social media posts. We could wear it, display it, and share it for everyone to see—and there would be nothing wrong with that. But it is one thing to repeat the words, and another to understand what we are confessing and to confess it in faith. And that is precisely where Martin Luther presses the point.

Five hundred years ago, when Martin Luther preached on the very same Epistle lesson that we are contemplating today, He said, 

“To call Jesus ‘Lord’ is to confess oneself his servant and to seek his honor alone.”

Luther goes on to say – and I am going to paraphrase, 

Every Christian can call Jesus “Lord.” But try living that confession for one full day, from morning to night, and see whether you can honestly say ‘Jesus is Lord’ in everything you do. Can you really say, at every moment, that you are serving the Lord Jesus in your work, your responsibilities, and your ordinary daily life? As you go about the duties of your home and vocation, ask yourself whether you are doing them in faith—so that you could sincerely say, without pretending or merely going through the motions, “In this, I am serving and pleasing Christ my Lord,” and be willing, if necessary, to stand by that confession even at the cost of your life.”

Dear friends, Luther’s point is simple: we are quite comfortable saying, “Jesus is Lord,” but far less comfortable with what that confession makes us—His servants.

Please listen up.  This is important. If Jesus is Lord, then you are His servant. You cannot have a lord without a servant, and you cannot be a servant without a lord. The two belong together. And yet, more often than not, this is exactly where we struggle. We want to call Jesus “Lord,” but we do not want to live faithfully as His servants. We like the confession on our lips, but we are much less comfortable with what that confession means for our lives.

Truth be told, the version of Christianity in America that you have grown up with is soft. We are used to convenience and comfort at very little cost. We expect church to fit our schedules and for the faith to stay out of the way of everything else we want to do. So, when Christianity becomes inconvenient, uncomfortable, or costly, we act as though something has gone terribly wrong. Frankly, you and I are spiritually spoiled. 

For example, you may say, “Jesus is Lord,” but then you complain about getting up for church on Sunday morning. You may say, “Jesus is Lord,” but then you flippantly skip the Divine Service for a sporting event, camping, or needing to sleep in. You may say, “Jesus is Lord,” but you do not want to put too much in the offering plate, but several hours later drop $60 for fast food, a movie, crafting materials, or hunting supplies. You may say, “Jesus is Lord,” but then you get worked up if your Christian values make you look strange among your co-workers—or worse yet, if your church looks different from the other churches in town. You may say, “Jesus is Lord,” but then you spend the drive home criticizing the selection of an unfamiliar hymn, the chanting in the service, upset that a hymn had 10 verses, or that you didn’t get enough frosting on your donut.

Dear friends, that is why you and I need a wake-up call. We are quick to complain about the cost of serving Christ because we forget what kind of Lord we have. You see, when we say, “Jesus is Lord,” we are not merely saying that Jesus gives the orders and we had better obey. That is true, but it does not go far enough. The real question is this: 

Do we realize what kind of Lord we have in Jesus? 

Baptized Saints, hear this! Jesus is the Lord who has redeemed you, a lost and condemned person. He is the Lord who has purchased and won you from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil. He is the Lord who did this not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death, so that you may be His own.

And so, when you say that Jesus is Lord, it means that you belong to the One who gave everything—gave Himself for you.

Think about it! 

You were under the lordship of sin, and Christ bought you out. You were under the sentence of death, and Christ stepped underneath that sentence for you. You were captive to the devil, and Christ defeated him. Jesus, your Lord, did not redeem you by demanding something from you. He redeemed you by giving Himself for you: His blood was your price. His death was your payment. His resurrection was your victory.

Dear Baptized Saints, when your Lord is the One who has shed His blood for you, forgiven your sins, conquered your death, and made you His own, then let’s be honest: getting up on Sunday morning is a small thing. Giving of your money is a small thing. Looking strange to the world is a small thing. Bearing inconvenience, suffering, even social loss for the sake of Christ is a small thing compared with what this Lord has done for you.

Dear friends, when you know the divine goodness and mercy of the Lord you serve, everything else falls into its proper place. Jesus is Lord, and you are His servant. And because He has redeemed you, forgiven you, and made you His own, it is now your duty—and your joy—to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. Obviously not to earn His mercy, but because His mercy has already been given to you. Not to make yourself His servant, but because in Christ you already belong to Him.

And so, say it boldly. Say it with faith. Say it knowing what it means: 

“Jesus is Lord.”

 He is the Lord who died for you, rose for you, forgives you, and keeps you as His own. He is your Lord, and you are His servant. 

Baptized Saints, there is no greater freedom, no greater assurance, and no better place to be than under the gracious lordship of Jesus Christ.  He is your Lord and you – His servants.  God be praised.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.