0658. Master (Gr. Rabbi), Great Chieftain

Master (Gr. Rabbi), Great Chieftain

"And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for as to be here: let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias" (Mar_9:5).

It will be well to briefly review the transfiguration scene. Peter, James, and John were with Christ in the Holy Mount. Christ was transfigured before them. His raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow. Elijah and Moses appeared, talking with Christ. Then Peter said, "Master, it is good for us to be here."

The word translated Master, is the Greek word, "Rabbi" and it means, "Great Chief."

Each one of us should recognize Jesus Christ as our Great Chief, and we should never place any other upon an equality with Him. Peter said, "Let us build three tabernacles, one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias." Immediately God spoke out of the blue, saying, "This is My beloved Son; hear Him." God’s Son is infinitely above Prophets.

We should call no man Rabbi, "Great Chieftain," but Christ. He alone is the Princely Leader of our faith.

There are those who love greetings in the market, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi, but God says: "Be ye not called Rabbi."

The spirit of the age which seeks to deify man, is seen in a Harvard class poem. Jesus Christ is dethroned from His position, as God, and man is enthroned as his own saviour. The poem runs like this:

"’Mid iron wheels and planets whirled,

The machinery of the modern world,

His lips cried loudly and retreat

Like someone risen from the dead,

Out of the church’s prison, a new christ has arisen."

And then the poem continues

"Wilt thou not listen, turn and bow

To that clear voice since man began,

Mankind your christ

Recrowned, retried, recrucified."

The same spirit which denies Christ His rightful place, and seeks to enthrone man, is seen in twentieth century socialism. H. D. Lloyd says: "Mankind struggling up out of the mud, has not dared to think of itself as the nebulae, in which is contained the shining star-stuff, but it is coming to feel that it does not need to be Divine, by proxy, any longer."

None other than the noted R. J. Campbell says: "Where is the dividing line between our beings and God’s? There is no dividing line except from our side. My god is myself. Man is not a fallen creature but a rising creature, rising steadily to deity. Never mind what the Bible says, trust the god that is within you."

Language, such as that expressed in the three quotations above, is nothing less than blasphemy, and yet that is just what we are facing everywhere today. Men are dethroning Jesus Christ and enthroning themselves. It is satan’s subtle attempt to tell man over again, "Ye shall be as gods."

Whatever else we do, let us crown Christ as Lord of all, for if we do not crown Him Lord of all, we do not crown Him Lord at all.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR