“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” ~ Matthew 1:21  

As the angel, Gabriel, revealed God’s plan to both Joseph and Mary, he instructed them to name the baby, Jesus, which means “God is my Savior”. When the angel announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds he told them, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Throughout eternity the Lord will carry many names and titles: Emmanuel, Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. But the first name He was given was “Jesus”, the Savior! 

One of my darker childhood memories is that of nearly drowning in a neighbor’s swimming pool. I was in the deep end, and too far from the side of the pool to rescue myself. In my distress I cried out and an older boy jumped into the pool, swam to where I was, and quickly pulled me to safety. He could not save me from where he was. He had to jump in and swim to where I was in order to save my life. 

Consider the love and commitment of the Lord Jesus in becoming our Savior. To save us from our sins, he had to leave where He was, in Heaven, to come to where we were! He overcame the sin and destruction that overwhelmed us, to deliver us to safety! If you will, just as my friend could not save me from the sidelines, so our Savior had to enter our world to reach us! 

May we never lose the wonder of what God accomplished by sending His only begotten Son into this sinful world so that He might be our Savior! Every time we speak that holy name we are declaring that Jesus is my Savior! 

Pastor Bish