CELEBRATING CHRIST MY SAVIOUR

“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will SAVE His people from their sins” – Matthew 1:21

Beloved, join me in CELEBRATING CHRIST – MY SAVIOUR: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). It is the glory of my Lord to also be my Saviour. He is my Saviour as well as Saviour of the world. No one has a monopoly over Him. Without Him we would have been “of all men most miserable” (1Cor.15:19). Matthew 1:21 reveals the reason behind the name JESUS: “For He shall SAVE His people from their sins” (Mt.1:21). So, “Saviour” is the essence of His name, but it has a fuller sense hidden within, for in the Hebrew form it means, “the salvation of the Lord” or “the Lord of salvation”, or “the Saviour.”

Joshua of old was a saviour. Gideon was a saviour. But the title is given to our Lord above all others because He is the Saviour in a sense that no one else can be – He saves His people from their sins! The Jews were longing for a Saviour. They expected one who would break the Roman yoke and save them from being under bondage to an alien power. But our Lord came to save wholly, entirely, and eternally. Jesus has been “raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David” (Lk.1:69). He is the Assurance for all flesh to see salvation (Lk.3:6). The word ‘save’ is very rich in meaning. The original word means: to preserve, keep, protect from danger, and secure. Jesus guarantees us a great salvation. Paul pondered: “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation…?” (Heb.2:3a). The full and exact of the word ‘save’ can hardly be given in English words. Jesus is our Saviour in the sense of deliverance, and also of preservation.

Our Saviour manifested as a matchless man, bearing the human nature but not the carnal corruption! He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, but in His flesh there is no sin! This Hoy One is the Son of God, and yet He is the Son of man! Our Redeemer’s name is the highest, brightest and noblest of names. To the best that was ever born of woman, God has given the best name that any son of man could bear: “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth” (Phil.2:9-10). He is not just a Saviour established by Man, but God the everlasting Father has set him forth as our Deliverer and Saviour, saying, “You shall call His name Jesus” (Mt.1:21).

In celebrating my Saviour, the lyrics of Stuart Townend’s 1998 song comes to mind. It is titled, All my days (Beautiful Saviour). This song shifts focus away from ourselves and our experiences and concentrates on Christ:

All my days I will sing this song of gladness,

Give my praise to the Fountain of delights,

For in my helplessness You heard my cry,

And waves of mercy poured down on my life.

I will trust in the cross of my Redeemer,

I will sing of the blood that never fails;

Of sins forgiven, of conscience cleansed,

Of death defeated and life without end.

Beautiful Saviour, Wonderful Counsellor,

Clothed in majesty, Lord of history,

You’re the Way, the Truth, the Life.

Star of the Morning, glorious in holiness,

You’re the Risen One, heaven’s Champion

And You reign, You reign over all.

I long to be where the praise is never-ending,

Yearn to dwell where the glory never fades;

Where countless worshippers will share one song,

And cries of ‘worthy’ will honour the Lamb!

Christ is Saviour because He is Emmanuel, God with us! By coming down from Heaven to this earth and taking upon Himself our nature, He bridged the gulf between God and man, restoring to us the JOY of SALVATION!