12-25-22 Sermon Notes “Jesus Is…Savior”

I hope that part of your Christmas tradition is to take the time to read the Christmas story from the Bible. I really like the story as told in the Gospel of Luke 2: 1-20. We will read those familiar words this coming Sunday, Christmas Day! Since our Advent focus has been on the names of Jesus, I want to highlight the announcement of the angel (maybe Gabriel?) to the shepherds.

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

Remember last week when I quoted Shakespeare: “What’s in a name?” The answer? Quite a lot, actually! Mary is told in Luke 1: 31 that she will name her baby, “Jesus.” The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew Jehoshua, which means “Jehovah saves.” The good news of great joy is for all people! And the good news is that God is sending to all people what will meet our greatest need…not a hero…not a soldier…not a judge or a reformer… but a Savior.

Our greatest need is a Savior. That’s the gift that God have in Jesus. The word “Savior” in Luke 2: 11 is the Greek word soter, which comes from the word sozo (to save). We usually think of Savior in terms of the spiritual and eternal salvation that God offers in Christ to those who believe. Digging deeper, we see that Savior also includes salvation from danger (Matt. 8:25 when the disciples were with Jesus in a boat in the storm – “Sozo us, Lord! We are perishing!”); salvation from suffering (Luke 23: 35 when the onlookers called for Jesus to “sozo” himself from the cross); salvation from sickness (Mark 5: 34 when Jesus told the woman who touched the hem of his garment that her faith had “sozo” her); preservation (to deliver safely out of – Jude 5)

God’s salvation for us through Jesus is much deeper and fuller than just repeating a “sinner’s prayer!” The Savior born to us in the City of David that first Christmas day is the gift that keeps on giving. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

See you Sunday,

Pastor Sam