As we shift our focus in our blog during the Christmas season, I wanted to us consider briefly today why God sent His Son to be our Savior. One of the first declarations that the angel made concerning Jesus to Joseph is found in Matthew’s gospel where we read, “And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins,” (Matt. 1:21 NASB). In this passage we see the angel telling Joseph right from the start, what to name his Son – “Jesus”. But we also see the explanation of why we need a Savior when the angel says, “for it is He who will save His people from their sins”. The name Jesus itself means “Savior”. So even before the cradle experience, we see the shadow of the cross being described as the very reason God was sending His Son. I wonder if Joseph and Mary fully understood what it would mean for their Son, Jesus to save the world from its sin. I can hardly imagine that Mary in her wildest imagination could ever thought of the experience she would have. But I’m sure her tragic sorrow was changed to overwhelming joy when news arrived on that first resurrection day that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead.
A second reference regarding our need for a Savior is seen in the angel’s declaration to the shepherds in Luke 2 where we read, “for today in the city of David there has been born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” (Luke2:11 NASB). This is only one of two spots in the Gospels in the New Testament where Christ is referred to as, “Savior”. The other occurs in John 4:42 when the men of Sychar after coming to Jesus, through the witness of the woman at the well, declare that Jesus is indeed “the Savior of the world”. What a blessing it is to know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. Do you have this personal relationship with Him?
This Sunday morning, I will be exploring further during my morning message the reasons why God was compelled to send us a Savior. I hope that you will be able to join us, if not in person, certainly join us for our online streaming service. What a blessing it is to declare the majesty and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, who has come to be our Savior.
All for God’s glory,
Pastor Rich Sivo
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