The Saviour of the World

Where does the phrase “saviour of the world” come from? We’re told that God will “send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them” (Isaiah 19:20). So we’re told of this saviour in the Old Testament before he is even born, but who is he? John tells us we must “know that this is indeed the Christ, the saviour of the world” (John 4:42). So our saviour is Jesus Christ, but who is this Jesus and why is he so special?

We have a wonderful description of Jesus in Isaiah: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). We can take a lot from this verse. Firstly the word “wonderful” means “miracle”. Immediately we see that Jesus’ birth was a miracle. Indeed, this is how it’s described by many today. Jesus is also called “counsellor”. This literally means “to give advice, instruction, counsel, direction”. We have many examples in the New Testament of Jesus giving advice and direction to his disciples and followers (see also Revelation 3:18 and Zechariah 6:12-13).

Jesus is described as “the mighty God”. Many may see this as evidence that Jesus is co-equal with God. However the word “God” here is actually the Saxon word for “good”. We read that God has exalted Jesus to be a Prince and a Saviour (Acts 5:31). Jesus was highly exalted and given the name above all names (Philippians 2:9). He is also called the “everlasting Father”. Again this doesn’t mean that Jesus is God. The word for “Father” here is the word used as a title of respect for a ruler. Therefore it’s being prophesied that Jesus will be the ruler of a world to come; the Kingdom of God which will be everlasting.

Jesus is also called “The Prince of Peace”. This also relates to the coming Kingdom where there will be no more fighting, war, or death (Micah 4:3-4). Isaiah 11:6-9 paints us a lovely image of the Kingdom which will be full of peace over which Jesus will reign for ever, “for he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:14).

The birth of Jesus was prophesied long before the event took place as we read, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14). This is fulfilled in Luke 1:26-35 and we can read the full account of his birth in Luke 2:1-21.

Jesus is special because he’s the Son of God. As he was born of Mary, he was the son of man, had human nature and the potential to sin. For that reason he was baptised (Matthew 3:13-17), even though he was “a lamb without blemish … who did no sin” (1 Peter 1:19 and 2:22). He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). We should strive to be like Jesus in our lives. He set the perfect example for us to follow (John 13:15). Jesus remained sinless regardless of the temptations placed before him, and thus overcame sin. “He was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin” (1 John 3:5).

Although Jesus remained sinless, due to his human nature, he had to die (Hebrews 9:27). Jesus submitted completely to his Father’s will. “He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). Jesus took our sin upon himself and endured the punishment we deserve; death and separation from God. He made it possible for us to receive his righteousness and be reconciled to God. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

We sin, and in his death, Christ paid the ransom for us. In doing this, Jesus bridged the gap between us and God. Jesus is the only solution to the problem of separation between man and God. 2 Timothy 1:10 states that Jesus “abolished” death. In remaining sinless and dying for our sins, he overcame death in himself. When he was crucified on the cross, he won the battle over sin. Sin overreached itself on the cross. Man’s hideous injustice that crucified Jesus became the means that opened the way for man to become free. Sin’s masterpiece of shame and hate became God’s masterpiece of mercy and forgiveness. Through the death of Jesus upon the cross, sin itself was crucified for those who believe. Jesus died and rose again. He proved the truth of all God’s promises to man.

Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death”. Therefore, due to Jesus’ sinless character, he could not remain dead. God raised him up, “having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it” (Acts 2:24). He was and is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26).

Jesus died that we might have hope of the resurrection, and everlasting life (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11). The imminent return of Jesus means for the believer that death isn’t a vast ending of nothingness and grief. It means for those who have placed their faith in Jesus that there will be a great and glad reunion of joy and laughter, when he returns. Although we are sorrowful and grieve in the face of death, we have an unmistakable and unshakable hope as our sure foundation.

Surely we can indeed say that “we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:14).

(Quotations from the King James Version of the Bible)

Laura Burdekin