Good Friday "savior" Series

Spoken Words:

• Vernon – Immanuel

• Jeromie – Lamb of God

• Isa- Savior

Sermon: Life of Christ - Good Friday - Savior

Introduction:

We have been looking at a few names of Jesus over the last few weeks.

Jesus is known by many different names as we have been discovering over this Easter season - Names have significance. They have power. They define something – they symbolize something or someone – they state a meaning and even a mission. The truth is names are more than a bunch of letters grouped together to sound pleasant to the ear. Names are more than a convenience allowing people to talk to each other and associate a person with that name. Names are given in the Bible by God to reveal spiritual truth, mission, purpose, and paint an image of a person’s character.

So, what’s in a name? A name shouts messages, reveals revelations about of whom it speaks, it describes the actions and character of the person being named.

As I was pondering all the names of Jesus 198, I came across this thought in Rob Bells book: Everything Is Spiritual:

“I saw how the name of God keeps changing—one person uses this word, this group uses that word, later on they name it something else. Elohim, Yahweh, Adonai, Theos—the list goes on. I saw how each of these names comes out of the particular struggles and hopes of that time and place, reflecting economics and politics and shifting consciousness.”

After reading this a thought spoke to me about Jesus – (Recall) Jesus is Love personified – Jesus is God’s love made visible to see, feel, touch, taste and smell – Why does he have so many names? Because of the millions of miracle’s he has done, the billions of personal touches of healing for people, the millions of revelations He has revealed to people, because of the His personal touch on millions of lives. He has so many names because He has done billions of acts of love for people, nations, churches, countries and people like you and me, Jesus names describe what He has done and is doing- I think before He returns their will be more names added to the 198 to describe Him! Because he will still continue being the Amazing Savior He is!

Jesus – God in the flesh – manifested through the Holy Spirit is right there in the middle of it all! His Spirit is all around us not adrift in the space continuum of time in another place- far away! His Spirit is connected to everything in this world! He is there in the middle of the night “God with us” – I know Him - I have talked a lot to Him this last week in the middle of the night! Sleepless nights but God is with me! He is even involved in our daily life, and we need to somehow see it, name it, embrace it and define it! We need to tell other people about it, we need to reveal it to them as well. Maybe creating another name for God to describe what He did or is doing is something we all should do! Make God – Make Jesus personal! So, I believe the names will keep coming because God’s is endlessly at work in this world – He has not returned yet more names are coming.

Do you have a name of Jesus which stands out to you? No really do you? Does it describe a miracle He did for you? Does it tell of a healing? Does it speak of a revelation He gave you? Does it explain a divine moment with Him?

So, let me ask which name of His 198 names speaks to you?

The many names of Jesus tell us who He was, Who He is and Who He will be in the future.

T.S. - But tonight, we are going to focus on Jesus’ name: “Savior” I would add a little more description to this name so indulge me this Good Friday evening service, “The Amazing Savior!”

Thesis: Jesus is our Savior – My Amazing Savior – He is the one who came to rescue us as we were drowning in a world filled with sin. His acts of heroism for others is endless and He has saved billions from drowning in this evil world. His life saving acts to me are why I call Him “The Amazing Savior!”

Question: Can you indulge me for a moment as I share how Amazing Jesus is!

Listen to how amazing our Savior is from Scripture:

Luke 5:9-10: (NASB) 9For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”