Savior, Christ, Lord

How many names do you have? Personally, I have just three—Robert John Morgan, plus two or three titles—pastor, dad, papa. But Jesus has hundreds of names and titles! Years ago, I read through the Bible—Genesis to Revelation—and listed all the names and titles I could find for the Lord Jesus. How many did I uncover? Over 300! 

It takes all those designations and more to portray the tiny child of Bethlehem’s manger. You might as well funnel the ocean into a jar as try to describe Him in a single word. He is Jesus, the Nazarene, the Galilean, Prince of Peace, King of Israel, Son of Man, Son of God, the Alpha and Omega, the Bright and Morning Star. He is Immanuel, the Redeemer, the Man of Sorrows, the Lamb of God. 

I don’t have space to give you the entire list, but let’s look at one verse in the Bible that proclaims His three best-known titles. On that mystic night as He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, angelic hosts flew earthward with a timeless message for the shepherds on the outskirts of Bethlehem: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11, KJV). 

Savior

Those Jewish shepherds would have recognized the term Savior as an Old Testament title for God, who delivered His people from one danger after another. The word conveys the idea of being rescued or saved from imminent danger.

Imagine being carried out to sea by a strong current. You’ve exhausted your strength. You’re choking, panicked, almost gone. Suddenly you feel arms slide around you. An iron-muscled lifeguard has become your savior and has saved you, giving you salvation from the merciless sea.

Our salvation through Christ is as dynamic and real as being saved from drowning. As our Savior, Jesus plunged into the cold waters of this world to rescue us from perishing. The Bible says, “God … has saved us … by the appearing of our Savior” (2 Timothy 1:8-10).

During the Vietnam War, Kim Phuc, only 9 years old, fled from bombing in her village. Her clothes were on fire, and she ended up in a hospital, badly burned and full of hatred. But she was able to go to the hospital library, and during her long recovery she read books that spoke about meaning in life. “One of the books that I read was the Holy Bible,” she said. “On Christmas 1982, I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. It was an amazing turning point in my life. God helped me to learn to forgive—the most difficult of all the lessons.”

This Christmas, you too can accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. It will be the greatest turning point in your life! Carefully listen to the angels: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour.”

Christ

That brings us to the term Christ. Many people assume Christ is simply our Lord’s second name—Jesus Christ, like my name, Robert Morgan. But no, the term Christ means the Anointed One, the Messiah.

Old Testament prophets, priests and kings were anointed for their offices by having oil poured or smeared onto their heads. The oil symbolized the Holy Spirit who descended upon them to empower them and set them apart for His work. 

In Luke 3:22, “And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him.” Shortly afterward, Jesus was described as being “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:1). He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor” (Luke 4:18). Others had previously been anointed with oil and the Spirit, but our Lord’s anointing was different, for God gave Him the Spirit without measure (see John 3:34).

There’s a poignant overtone to this. The ultimate role of the Messiah was to suffer and die, that He might atone for the sins of people like you and me. In Luke 24:46, Jesus said, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.” 

The Apostle Peter said, “But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled” (Acts 3:18). The Apostle Paul explained, “the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead. … This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ’” (Acts 17:3).

This is the glorious tragedy of Christmas. The One who was conceived by the Holy Spirit for His birth was anointed by the Holy Spirit for His death. We cannot separate His cross from His cradle. The entire life of Christ is an arc of anguish, leading to the glory of His resurrection. Through this inscrutable process, Jesus the Messiah opens for you and me the doorway to forgiveness, fulfillment and eternal life.

Pastor Neil Strait wrote, “The coming of Christ by way of Bethlehem seems strange and stunning. But when we take Him out of the manger and invite Him into our hearts, then the meaning unfolds and the strangeness vanishes.”

Have you done that? Remember the Christmas message: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ.”

Lord

The angels went on to call Him “Christ the Lord.” The word Lord refers to His infinite power and authority, for He always is and was and will be Almighty God Himself. Author John Blanchard said, “When Jesus came to earth He did not cease to be God; and when He returned to Heaven He did not cease to be man.”

This is mystery; but it’s marvelous mystery, for the Bible says, “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

In the New Testament, the writers typically used the word God to describe God the Father; and the word Lord to describe God the Son—ascribing to both the qualities of divinity, or God-ness. Since Jesus is Lord, He is the source of all things, the sustainer of all reality, and the ruler of all that exists in Heaven or Earth. 

Paul said, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Peter wrote, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord” (1 Peter 3:15, NIV). And the Apostle John wrote, “Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?” (Revelation 15:4).

A young couple saved enough money to buy a house on the outskirts of town. From the first days of their marriage eight years before, they’d lived in boarding houses and apartments, avoiding luxuries and jealously saving their funds. Finally they had enough money for a generous down payment. They saw a “For Sale By Owner” sign in front of a little cottage on a quiet street. They approached the man and negotiated the deal. When they gave him the funds, he pulled a brown envelope from his pocket and gave it to them. It contained a small key.

Years of striving and saving for only one small key!

But the man told them, “This key will unlock the gate, the house, the screen door, the front door, the basement door, the cupboard, all the closets, and the shed in the back. It’s the only key you need.”

The couple moved in on Christmas Day.

When you proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, you’re opening the envelope of your heart and giving Him a key that fits every door, every lock, every room of your life—even the shed. He comes to take possession. He wants to be Lord of your past, present and future. He wants to oversee your habits, renew your thoughts and transform your attitudes. He begins the patient work of internal renovation. He comes to dwell within, and to give you the kind of life that’s both abundant and eternal.

Don’t hold anything back from Him! During this season of His birth, give Him all there is of yourself. Let Him be your Lord!

Yes, Jesus has hundreds of names and titles in the Bible, and perhaps even more in the highest heavens. But during this Christmas season, make sure you know Him as the angels spoke of Him to the huddling shepherds of Judah. Their message is personal.

They didn’t say, “For unto others …”

They said: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” ©2024 Robert J. Morgan

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version. The Scripture quotation marked KJV is taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version. The Scripture quotation marked NIV is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version.