Jesus ~ Savior

Savior:

“But the angel said to them,

‘Do not be afraid;

for I bring you good news of great joy

which will be for all the people;

for today in the city of David

there has been born for you a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord.’”

~Luke 2:11

A number of judges and other people in the Old Testament

were called savior, deliverer, or redeemer,

for they rescued their countries from oppressors…

“When the sons of Israel cried to the Lord,

the Lord raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel

to deliver them,

Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother…

~Judges 3:9

The Spirit of the Lord was with Othniel;

God empowered him to conquer the king of Mesopotamia,

bringing rest to the land for forty years.

…the Lord raised up a deliverer for the,

Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite,

a left-handed man.”

~Judges 3:15

Ehud’s dominant left hand was an unexpected advantage

over Eglon, the king of Moab,

paving the way for the sons of Israel

to conquer ten thousand valiant Moabite warriors,

and bringing peace to the land for eighty years.

“The Lord gave Israel a deliverer

so that they escaped from under the hand of the Arameans;

and the sons of Israel lived in their tents as formerly.”

~II Kings 13:5

Jeroboam II rescued Israel from the Syrians.

“Then the women said to Naomi,

‘Blessed is the Lord

who has not left you without a redeemer today,

and may his name become famous in Israel.’”

~Ruth 4:14

Boaz was known as Ruth’s kinsman redeemer,

one who ‘comes to help or rescue’.

As an obligation stemming from being the nearest blood relative,

A kinsman redeemer’s duty was

to act as a mediator to bring restoration among relatives,

to buy back the estate that his closest relative sold,

or to redeem the land, and sometimes the widow, of a deceased relative.

The Lord raised up others

whom He strengthened to triumph over their enemies;

frequently they were recognized as deliverers, redeemers or saviors.

In order to identify someone as a savior,

there are five aspects to consider:

1.  An enemy

2.  The one(s) in need of being saved

3.  A motivation

4.  An intentional action

5.  Proven success

Being a savior indicates providing assistance, rescuing,

protection, victory, prosperity, security.

The need for a savior implies the existence of enemies,

oppressors, persecutors, bullies, tyrants,

attacking, abduction, fighting, war.

A savior, revealed in the title itself,

has proven to be stronger, smarter, more successful

than the enemy in whose grasp is the one needing of saving.

Although we don’t commonly use this term to describe someone today,

perhaps a policeman, a fireman, or an ER doctor

could be considered modern day saviors.

So what sets Jesus apart as ‘The Savior’?

“For God so loved the world,

that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish,

but have eternal life. 

“For God did not send the Son into the world

to condemn the world,

but that the world might be

saved through Him.”

~John 3:16,17

1.  The enemy:  Satan

2.  The ones in need of being saved:  Everyone

3.  His motivation:  Love

4.  His intentional action:  Death

5.  His proven success:  Resurrection and Life

Only God is able save us from death

and from eternal separation from Himself.

Jesus is The Savior

because He is God,

and God is Love.

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name;

you are Mine!

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.

For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel,

your Savior…

“Before Me there was no God formed,

and there will be none after Me.

I, even I, am the Lord,

and there is no savior besides Me.”

~Isaiah 43:1-3,10,11