The Savior of All

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.   Psalm 103:2-5

The Scriptures clearly teach that Jesus Christ came to save God’s people.  He is not just a teacher, prophet, or friend.  He did not come to establish an earthly kingdom or to overturn political oppressors.  Throughout the Law, Prophets, and Psalms of the Old Testament, we find a consistent picture of a Messiah who would come to restore God’s people through His saving work.

Jesus Christ forgives us all of our sins by becoming sin for us.  The Righteous One came into this world to become accursed in our place.  He exchanges His perfect life and health for our sin-sick bodies and souls.  He redeems us from the pit of destruction by trading places with us.  The purchase price for our freedom was the shedding of His own blood.  He crowns us with steadfast love and mercy by becoming adorned with a crown of thorns.  This crown does not sit regally on His head but is the pinnacle of His mockery.  He satisfies us with good as He thirsts for mercy that does not come.  We are renewed while He is poured out.  We rise up like an eagle, while He descends into the depths of woe and suffering.

The beautiful paradoxes help us to understand and marvel the lengths to which Jesus went to save His people.  Not important people or rich people.  Not powerful people or popular people.  Jesus Christ came to give His life on the cross for all people.  Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for those who some who consider the least and the lowest.  However, all are children created in the image of God and ones for whom Christ died.  May we be reminded once again that Jesus came to save people from sin and death by offering Himself.

Prayer – Almighty God, our heavenly Father, out of Your great love for fallen humanity, You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die on the cross for all who have sinned and to rise victorious from the grave so that all who believe in Him would live eternally with You.  Help us to never forget that all people are ones for whom Christ died as we bear witness to Him in our daily callings; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

Fraternally in Christ,
President Lee Hagan