Under the direction of the Father, Jesus bore the responsibility of Creator.
His title was the Word—“Divine Expression.”
We use words to convey our expression to others.
So Jesus was the “Word” or “Expression” of his Father to the world.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
Jesus was Jehovah.
This sacred title is recorded only four times in the King James version of the Holy Bible.
Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word hayah, which means “to be” or “to exist.”
A form of the word hayah in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament was translated into English
as “I AM” I quote the voice of Jehovah: "I am the first and the last; I am he who
liveth, I am he who was slain."
Jesus is our Advocate with the Father.
The word advocate comes from Latin roots meaning a “voice for,” or “one who pleads for
another.”
From the Book of Mormon we learn that this responsibility was foreseen before his birth:
"[Jesus] shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in
him shall be saved."
This mission was clearly evident in the compassionate intercessory prayer of Jesus.
Comprehending him as our advocate-intercessor-mediator with the Father gives us assurance of his
unequaled understanding, justice, and mercy.
Remember Isaiah’s remarkable prophecy?
"The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and
shall call his name Immanuel."
Fulfillment of that prophecy was not just unlikely—it was humanly impossible!
Everyone knew that a virgin could not bear a child.
And then for that child to be given such a pretentious name was doubly daring!
The Hebrew name that Isaiah announced—Immanuel—literally means “with us [is] God!”
Jesus was literally “the Son of the Highest.”
In more than a dozen verses of scripture, the solemn word of God the Father bears testimony
that Jesus was truly his Beloved Son.
That solemn testimony was often coupled with God’s pleading for mankind to hear and obey
the voice of his revered Son.
From his mother, Jesus inherited his potential for mortality and death.
From his Heavenly Father, Jesus inherited his potential for immortality and eternal
life.
Their ultimate objective is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”
“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.”
So Jesus was the Anointed One.
Because of this fact He was granted two specific titles.
One was the Messiah, which in Hebrew means "the anointed."
The other was the Christ, which comes from the Greek Khristos, which also means "the
anointed."
Thus Jesus is spoken of as the Christ and the Messiah, which means He is the one anointed
of the Father to be His personal representative in all things pertaining to the salvation
of mankind.
Jesus was born to be Savior and Redeemer of all mankind.
He was the Lamb of God, who offered himself without spot or blemish as a sacrifice for
the sins of the world.
His atonement blesses each of us in a very personal way.
"Remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the
atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the
world."
Closely allied to the Lord’s status as Savior and Redeemer is his responsibility as Judge.
When we approach the threshold of the eternal court of justice, we know who will personally
preside: "The keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant
there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived,
for the Lord God is his name.
And whoso knocketh, to him will he open."
Another responsibility of the Lord is that of Exemplar.
To the people of the Holy Land, he said, "I have given you an example, that ye should
do as I have done."
Sinless and flawless as Jesus was in mortality, we should remember that he viewed his own
state of physical perfection as being yet in the future.
Even he had to endure to the end.
So while you earnestly strive for continuing improvement in your life here, remember your
resurrection, exaltation, and perfection await you in the life to come.
That precious promise of perfection could not have been possible without the Lord’s
atonement and his example.
I have chosen to speak last of the Lord’s ultimate responsibility, which lies yet in
the future.
That will be his masterful status as the Millennial Messiah.
When that day comes, the physical face of the earth will have been changed:
"Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the
crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain."
He “shall reign for ever and ever.”
In that day he will bear new titles and be surrounded by special Saints.
He will be known as “Lord of lords, and King of kings."
He is Jesus the Christ—our Master and more.
We have discussed but ten of his many responsibilities: Creator, Jehovah, Advocate with the Father,
Immanuel, Son of God, Anointed One, Savior and Redeemer, Judge, Exemplar, and Millennial
Messiah.
He lives!
I love him.
Eagerly I follow him, and willingly I offer my life in his service.
As his special witness, I solemnly teach of him.
I testify of him.
In the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.