Last week, we began a series on the Christmas Names of God. We looked at the names Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Our theme verse for this week is Luke 2:11, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
His Name is Savior
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. That is His mission and that is our mission. The title or name Savior belongs to God alone. “I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior” (Is. 43:11). Hosea 13:4 says the same thing, “Yet I am the Lord your God…and you shall know no God but Me; For there is no savior besides Me.” His name, Savior, tells us who He is and who we are. He is Savior. We are sinners. Only sinners need a Savior. We can’t save ourselves! Only God can save. Long ago, an unnamed source said it like this:
If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.
If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.
But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.
His Name is Christ
Christ is the Greek form of the Hebrew word Messiah. Christ means Messiah or Anointed One. Acts 10:38 tells us God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power. In Luke 4, Jesus Himself testifies, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (v. 18-19). Jesus fulfilled every Old Testament Messianic prophecy. He is the Messiah of the Jews!
John 1:41-42 says that Andrew “first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” Andrew knew that Jesus was the One they had been waiting for and he brought Simon to Jesus. Who do you need to bring to the Lord? Who needs to know that Jesus can heal the brokenhearted and set the captives free?
His Name is Lord
The baby born in Bethlehem, lying in a manger, was not just Savior, but Lord. Philippians 2 says every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. It is not a matter of if, but when. He is the head of the church. He rules in heaven. He is at the right hand of the Father. You cannot make Jesus Lord. He already is Lord! All you can do is surrender to His Lordship.
In Luke 6:46 Jesus says, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” If Jesus is not your Lord, He is not your Savior. If He is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all. You can’t say, “Come in Savior and stay out Lord.” I love how the book of Jude ends, “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” He is able. He always has been able in the past, will be able in the future, and IS able in the present! Whatever your problem, need, or hurt, no matter how great or small, God IS able! So many are falling. Is there any hope? Man will disappoint you, but our hope is in Heaven. Jesus is not just Lord. He is Lord of Lords! He is not just King. He is King of Kings! He is in a class all by Himself! Jesus is the Savior of the World, the Christ, the Messiah of the Jews, and the Lord of the universe!
Has Jesus saved you? If not, today you can receive the greatest Christmas present of all.
