And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:8–11 ESV
On that first Christmas evening, the shepherds in the fields heard the angels from heaven describe the baby in Bethlehem as a Savior. While in the Old Testament God is referred to as Savior thirteen times, this was the first use of that title for the Messiah, the Christ (Luke 2:11). New Testament writers will go on to use this title nineteen times to describe our Lord, Jesus Christ.
He is our Savior because He saves us from death: “But now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10, nasb).
He is our Savior because He delivers us from the wrath that is coming. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 reminds us that Jesus “delivers us from the wrath to come.”
He is our Savior because He is the creator and sustainer of the church, the delivered ones of this age: “Even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior” (Ephesians 5:23).
He is our Savior because He is coming again to save us from this fallen, evil world. Titus 2:13 reminds us that as believers we are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
When we contemplate all that Christ has done for us, as described in these verses and in many others too, the depiction of Him as our Savior is so fitting. This Christmas, let’s proclaim wholeheartedly to ourselves and others: Jesus is our Savior!