Perhaps we could turn to a few scriptures, and endeavor, as simply as we are able, to notice the significance of the names employed.
“Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:1, 21Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:1‑2)).
Observe here the names of that blessed One are given to us in three forms—three combinations of names here. Paul and Timotheus speak of themselves as servants of Jesus Christ. They address all the saints in Christ Jesus—they reverse the words—and in the second verse they speak of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Why these variations? Is that just done to give a flourish to the pen? People do that sometimes. Is that the reason for it here? No; Paul and Timotheus present themselves as servants of the one who was Himself a servant below, but who is now exalted. They address all the saints in the now exalted one, who once was the lowly one down here. What do they desire for these? That grace and peace be issued to them from the Lord; that is, that Jesus Christ as Lord, would issue to them the grace and peace needed. His authority is now in view.
Here it is a question of the Lord’s being set before us on a descending scale. The one who in Himself was the high and lofty one—that one came down and became Jesus, and trod a pathway of shame and woe. In verses 6-8, there is a wonderful summary of that life.
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Verse 9).
His Lordship will be recognized and exercised over all His wide dominion soon. Thank God for the measure in which our hearts own His Lordship now.
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others, which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep through Jesus will God bring with Him.” (1 Thess. 4:13, 1413But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13‑14)).
I submit that this is very tender. Divine wisdom abounds here. God sets Jesus before us now. Who are those addressed? Bereaved ones on earth. What is the character in which that blessed one is presented? Is His supreme authority and glory emphasized? No; the Spirit of God sets Him before us in the character of the one who Himself went through death; the one who was down here in the very scene you and I are going through, and who has gone through trials, sorrows and difficulties such as we have never known. Thus Jesus is brought before us here. Jesus died, and those who die, sleep through Jesus.
“For this we say unto you, by the word of the Lord.” (Verse 15).
Not by the “word of Jesus,” or by the “word of Christ.” This is authority. God would have us know it. This comes by supreme authority.
It is a question now of power—of resurrection—a power that will awaken the dead. A question of divine power.
“For the Lord Himself” —not Jesus—not Christ “shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”
Not “the dead in Jesus.” The dead are in Christ here. That is, their privileges and the blessedness of their standing as being in Him who is the exalted and glorified one, is that which is in question here.
“The dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord,” —with the One whose power, whose authority, we shall forever own, and the one whose power and authority earth shall likewise own!
Thank God for the grace that has linked us with Him now, and has given us to know something of the fellowship of His sufferings, and if in any way we can say it, has “made us conformable unto His death.” Presently we shall be gathered where He is, to be with and like Him forever. May the Lord give us to live and walk in the power and sense of this truth.
“Soon Thou wilt come again,
Jesus, our Lord!
We shall be happy then,
Jesus, our Lord!
Then we Thy face shall see,
Then we shall like Thee be,
Then evermore with Thee,
Jesus, our Lord!”
(Continued from page 107)
Concluded.