January 4

CHRIST our MASTER (Mt 8:19). “Master” is the translation of six Greek words. He is our Kurios (Mk 13:35; Eph 6:9), often translated Lord or owner and linked with kuriakon, anglicised to our word “church,” meaning “belonging to the Lord.” Despotes (2 Tim 2:21) also indicates owner, but emphasizes one who has “absolute ownership and uncontrolled power.” Related to that is Oikodespotes (Mt 10:25; Lk 13:25), stressing his stewardship over the household of faith. Epistates (Lk 5:5; 8:24, 45; 9:33), is translated commander, reminding us that the battle is the Lord’s. Didaskalos (Mt 8:19; 12:38; 22:16), teacher, is used to translate Rabbi, Rabboni (Jn 1:29, 49), the Hebrew [or Aramaic] equivalent. Here the stress is on Christ’s wonderful ability to instruct and transform His followers through the truth. And He is our Kathegetes (Mt 23:8, 10), our guide or leader, one who goes before. The Lord Jesus never asks us to go where He has not already gone, and leads us all the way Home.

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