And so we've reached the end of our study on who Jesus claimed to be. For our final week we asked the question, "What do we say to that?" Like Thomas in the presence of the post-resurrection Christ, we can only bend the knee and say, "My Lord and my God!"
We spent some time talking about the names of God and how they had been made manifest in the life of Christ. We especially focused on the Greek Kurios and Theos, the words that John reported from Thomas's exclamation to Jesus. These are the Greek words that were used to translate the Hebrew Adonai and Elohim, respectively. From the Biblical Studies Foundation:
Elohim: The plural form of EL, meaning "strong one." It is used of false gods, but when used of the true God, it is a plural of majesty and intimates the trinity. It is especially used of God?s sovereignty, creative work, mighty work for Israel and in relation to His sovereignty (Isa. 54:5; Jer. 32:27; Gen. 1:1; Isa. 45:18; Deut. 5:23; 8:15; Ps. 68:7)....
Adonai: Like Elohim, this too is a plural of majesty. The singular form means "master, owner." Stresses man?s relationship to God as his master, authority, and provider (Gen. 18:2; 40:1; 1 Sam. 1:15; Ex. 21:1-6; Josh. 5:14).
And the name of Jesus Christ is likewise full of meaning: "Salvation is from the LORD, the Anointed One". He's the living Word, bearing testimony by His very name to the written Word! He is Lord and God, the Lord who leads the heavenly armies, God our provider, the Lord our peace, the sovereign God, the Lord our righteousness, God our shepherd, the Lord our shelter, God our salvation, the Lord who is present.
He's told us who He is. But what about you? Who do you say that He is?

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