Come, Lord Jesus, Maranatha: Biblical Meaning, Usage, and Significance
The phrase “Come, Lord Jesus,” often associated with the Aramaic word “Maranatha,” occupies a unique and profound place in Christian theology and worship. This expression, found in the earliest Christian communities, encapsulates both a longing for the return of Christ and a declaration of his lordship. Its usage in the New Testament, especially in the closing verses of Revelation and in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, reveals deep theological currents that connect the hope of Israel with the eschatological expectation of the church. This article explores the meaning, biblical occurrences, and theological implications of “Maranatha” and the prayer “Come, Lord Jesus,” drawing from both Old and New Testament scriptures and engaging with the phrase’s historical, linguistic, and devotional context.
The Linguistic and Historical Background of Maranatha
“Maranatha” is an Aramaic expression, transliterated into Greek letters in the New Testament. Aramaic was the common spoken language among Jews in Galilee and Judea during the time of Jesus and the early church. The word itself is a compound of “maran” (our Lord) and “atha” (come), though it can be parsed as either “Marana tha” (“Our Lord, come!”) or “Maran atha” (“Our Lord has come”). Most scholars and translators, in light of the context, favor the imperative sense: “Our Lord, come!”
The use of Aramaic in the Greek New Testament is rare and usually reserved for phrases of particular significance, such as “Abba” (“papa; daddy”) (Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6) and “Ephphatha” (“be opened”) (Mark 7:34). The preservation of “Maranatha” in its original form suggests it was a well-known liturgical or devotional formula in the early church, likely used in worship, prayer, and mutual encouragement.
Biblical Occurrences of Maranatha and “Come, Lord Jesus”
The explicit use of “Maranatha” appears in 1 Corinthians 16:22: “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!”
Here, the phrase “Our Lord, come!” is the translation of “Maranatha.” Paul’s use of this phrase is striking, as it is juxtaposed with a solemn warning: “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed [anathema]. Our Lord, come [Maranatha]!” The context is both pastoral and eschatological, expressing the seriousness of loving Christ and the church’s hope in his return.
The prayer “Come, Lord Jesus” is found in the final chapter of the New Testament, Revelation 22:20: “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
This is the last recorded prayer of the Bible, a fitting conclusion to the Christian Scriptures, echoing the longing for Christ’s promised second coming. The phrase is not a mere wish, but a confident invocation grounded in the promise of the risen Lord.
Old Testament Roots and Messianic Expectation
While the word “Maranatha” does not appear in the Old Testament, the longing for the coming of the Lord is deeply rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures. The prophets often spoke of the day of the Lord, a future time when God would intervene decisively in history to judge evil and establish his kingdom (see Isaiah 2:12; Joel 2:1, 31; Amos 5:18). For example, Isaiah prophesies: “For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up–and it shall be brought low.” (Isaiah 2:12)
The Old Testament hope for the coming of the Lord is both a hope for deliverance and a warning of judgment. This dual aspect is reflected in the New Testament usage of “Maranatha,” which is both a prayer for Christ’s return and a reminder of the seriousness of loving and following him.
The Maranatha Prayer in Early Christian Worship
The use of “Maranatha” in 1 Corinthians 16:22 suggests that it was a familiar prayer or acclamation among the early Christians. The Didache, an early Christian manual of teaching and worship, also preserves the use of “Maranatha” in the context of the Lord’s Supper, further indicating its liturgical function. This prayer expresses the church’s continual expectation and hope: the Lord who has come in humility will come again in glory.
The Maranatha prayer is thus both a remembrance and an anticipation. It remembers the incarnation–“the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14)–and anticipates the consummation of all things at Christ’s return. The church lives in the tension between the “already” and the “not yet,” celebrating the salvation accomplished by Jesus and longing for its final fulfillment.
Longing for Christ’s Return
The prayer “Come, Lord Jesus, Maranatha” is fundamentally eschatological. It expresses the church’s longing for the return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the renewal of all things. Paul writes elsewhere: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:11-13)
The Christian life is characterized by waiting and hope. The Maranatha prayer is not escapist but is rooted in the conviction that Christ’s return will bring justice, healing, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. It is a prayer that sustains believers in times of suffering and injustice, reminding them that history is moving toward God’s appointed end.
Maranatha and the Lordship of Christ
By invoking “Maranatha,” the early Christians were also making a bold confession of Jesus’ lordship. In a world where “Caesar is Lord” was the imperial creed, to say “Our Lord, come!” was to declare that Jesus, not Caesar, is the true sovereign. This confession is echoed throughout the New Testament: “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:2-3)
Calling upon the name of the Lord is an act of worship and dependence, rooted in the Old Testament practice of invoking God’s name (Genesis 4:26; Joel 2:32), now applied to Jesus as Lord.
Maranatha, Anathema, and the Seriousness of Love for Christ
The juxtaposition of “anathema” (accursed) and “Maranatha” in 1 Corinthians 16:22 is theologically significant. Paul writes: “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!” (1 Corinthians 16:22)
This solemn warning underscores the seriousness of loving Christ. To reject him is to place oneself outside the sphere of blessing and hope. Yet, the prayer “Maranatha” immediately follows, reminding the church that the return of Christ is both a hope for believers and a warning to those who reject him.
Maranatha and Christian Perseverance
The Maranatha prayer also serves as a source of perseverance for believers. The hope of Christ’s return motivates holy living, steadfastness in suffering, and faithfulness in witness. As Paul encourages the Thessalonians: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all… The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16, 18)
The benedictions and prayers of the New Testament frequently invoke the presence and grace of the Lord Jesus, sustaining the church as it awaits his coming.
Conclusion - Come, Lord Jesus!
“Maranatha–Come, Lord Jesus” is more than a phrase; it is the heartbeat of Christian hope and worship. Rooted in the Old Testament longing for the coming of the Lord, fulfilled in the incarnation, and awaiting consummation at Christ’s return, this prayer unites believers across time and space in a shared confession and expectation. It reminds the church of the seriousness of loving Christ, the certainty of his promises, and the call to live in readiness and hope. As the final prayer of Scripture and the enduring cry of the church, “Maranatha” continues to shape Christian faith, worship, and mission until the day when the Lord himself answers, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)