“The gospel [God] promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son … Jesus Christ our Lord.”

- from Romans 1:2-5

“I believe in God the Father, almighty, creator of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;”

- from the Apostles’ Creed

There’s a particular-ness to this Creed, a particular-ness that emerges when the Creed takes the turn from the Mighty-Creator-Father to the Christ-Son-Lord Jesus.

People all around the world want to believe in a cosmic being who is loving and powerful, yet distant. Perhaps this cosmic being will do them some good turn, but mostly they will be left to lead their own lives.

This is not the God presented in the Bible or in the Creed. The God of the Bible and the Creed has entered into history: Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

We see how the name of “Jesus” brings division. His presence creates a fork in the road. Jesus presents us with a specific Jew living in a specific time and a specific place, one who lays claim to utterly unique titles: Christ, Son and Lord.

These titles relate “up” as the Son loves and is loved by God the Father. And these titles relate “down” as the Lord rules and reigns over all of creation. And these titles relate “across” as the Christ enters into the grand narrative that God’s been unrolling throughout human history, fulfilling God’s promises practically and perfectly.

As we turn our focus to Jesus this week, which of his titles most resonate with you: Christ, Son or Lord? Which of his titles is most foreign to you or sounds most strange?