12 Days of Christmas: Day #12 Jesus is SAVIOR

From the very beginning, God had a plan to save mankind. When Adam and Eve sinned, mankind became separated from God. We were all in need of a Savior to offer (or in this case, to be) a perfect sacrifice to atone (that’s a big church word for “cover by substitution”) for our sins. We needed a Savior to cover over our sins, so that God could pardon our sins, cancel our debt (which was death and eternal separation from a holy God), and reconcile us to God in relationship now and in eternity. 

In God’s amazing grace, Scripture reveals that as early as Genesis 3:15 (right after the sin of Adam and Eve), the Lord declared that one would later come who would crush the serpent (Satan). This was the Lord’s declaration to the serpent, and to mankind, that one day all would be made right. 

One day the serpent would be defeated. God would make a way for His people to be saved and for evil to be crushed. 

One day God would come to earth as a newborn baby and be given the name Jesus. 

In fact, in Matthew 1:21-23, the angel told Joseph, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

This baby Jesus we celebrate would save His people from their sins. This baby Jesus we celebrate is the One who made a way for all mankind to be saved and the One who made a way for evil to be crushed. 

At Christmas, we celebrate Jesus’ arrival to complete God’s salvation plan. But our celebration of Jesus’ glorious birth would not be nearly as meaningful without the full story that includes His tragic death and glorious resurrection.

When Jesus died on the cross, He paid our debt–offering up His life for ours, to cover our sins with His perfect sacrifice, so that we could be reconciled to God once again.

When He was buried and rose to life again, He defeated death. And when He defeated death, He also defeated Satan; He crushed the serpent, just as the Lord had said He would. 

Jesus is Savior, and this affects our today and it affects our tomorrow. 

Because He saves, we have a hope in heaven–an eternal life in glory. Because He saves, we have a transforming hope for today, experiencing the redeeming new creation work that can only come with God’s salvation through Christ. Because He saves, we have a hope that the troubles and trials we face, as we live in this broken world awaiting His return, will all be used for His glory. 

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11, emphasis author’s). 

Jesus IS that Savior. Jesus saves His people from their sins.

How do you respond to Jesus as your Savior?

How can you share Jesus, your Savior, with others? Take a moment to pray. Thank God for His incredible gift of salvation. Thank Him that He made a plan for Jesus to be our Savior long before we understood we would need Him. Confess to Him any ways you are quick to forget that you are in need of a savior. Ask Him for forgiveness, knowing He loves you. Ask Him to help you remember His great saving grace each day of your life, and to be eager to share it with others. Thank Him today for the best Christmas gift ever given–Jesus Christ our Savior.