Hello beloved,
Let us continue our study of the names and titles for Jesus. In the last two months, we considered the teaching titles of Jesus as the “Rabboni,” “Didaskalos,” and “Kathegetes” or Instructor. This month we will continue to focus our attention on Jesus’ title of “Epistates,” which means Master. The Lexham Bible Sense Lexicon defines “Epistates” or Master as “one of greater rank or station or quality who superintends and instructs a group.” Elmer Towns adds, “It is a strong term, meaning ‘chief, commander, leader, or overseer’ . . . It designates the absolute authority of the one so addressed and would ordinarily be considered an honorable title.”
Luke is the only gospel that applies this specific title/word to Christ. He does so in six different sections of his gospel. In Luke 5:5, Simon (Peter) answers Jesus’ request that he and the other fishermen try once again to find a catch of fish in the deep by saying, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets” Luke 5:5 (ESV). On another occasion, when Jesus was asleep in a boat with His disciples on the sea, a windstorm sent His disciples into a frantic tizzy as they woke Him and said, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Luke 8:24 (ESV). Jesus responded by rebuking the wind and the waves, which immediately calmed down. He then asked His disciples, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” Luke 8:25 (ESV). In the same chapter, a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years touched the fringe of Jesus’ garment, expecting to be healed and then she was. Jesus asked, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”
Luke 8:45 (ESV). The women confessed her action and situation to which Jesus responded, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace” Luke 8:48 (ESV). The same title of Master (Epistates) was used by Peter for Jesus at the transfiguration (Luke 9:33); by John, who tried to stop someone from casting out demons in the name of Jesus (Luke 9:49); and by ten lepers who were crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us” Luke 17:13. (ESV)
Towns insightfully comments on the use of Master (Epistates) for Jesus:
It (Epistates) was apparently never used except by a disciple and in every case occurs within a context in which the speaker’s view of Jesus is somewhat defective. It is always followed by the user being rebuked for his action or conclusion, or the user experiencing something that causes him to grow in his understanding of who Jesus is.
Until next time, this is Pastor Daniel writing, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”
(Much of the content of this newsletter is taken from Elmer Towns The Names of Jesus)