Jesus The Savior

"...His Name was called Jesus, the Name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb." Shepherds tending their flocks near Bethlehem were told by an angel, "...there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior..." St. Luke 2:20-21, 40-52, especially vs. 21: (Lk. 2:11), and their hearts opened at the stunning news.

The shepherds heard and saw the hosts of heaven praising God Who extends His peace to all mankind. Quickly, they went into Bethlehem to see the wonder. Each detail they beheld was an echo of the angels' hymn. Yes, a Savior! A Savior is born to us, among us, and for us. A Savior is born in the royal city. Joyous, they returned to their flocks in the pastures on the hills beyond Bethlehem.

Are we surprised that as they went they also glorified and praised God? "... all the things that they had heard and seen [in Bethlehem, were] as it was told them" (Lk. 2:20). The Child was in a manger. He was wrapped in swaddling cloths. Further, when they shared what was told them, His mother, Mary, and Joseph both replied, "Yes, but listen! The Angel told us to give Him the Name 'Savior' when He is Circumcised" (cf.: Lk. 1:31 and Mt. 1:25).

Beloved, let us not miss the Evangelist's point, for next he reports that on the eighth day, the Child was given the Hebrew name that means "Savior." He was called "Yeshua," or in Greek, "Iesus." What led the Evangelist to fix our attention on this Child as Savior?

The Apostles want the world to know what they learned as Jesus' disciples: His birth was no accident, but rather a great step in God's high purpose from all Eternity. The Bethlehem shepherds learned this at the time of His birth (Lk. 2:11). Likewise, the Evangelist wants us to understand - God the Lord came Himself to save His creation gone astray, to salvage the unique race which He had formed in His Own image. Thus, St. Luke weaves the saving message throughout his Gospel. God had intervened on behalf of His People for centuries. He had selected His chosen People to announce His salvation to all nations, and repeatedly He had saved them. He freed them "...out of the hand of the Egyptians..." when they were slaves (Ex. 14:30). The Prophet Moses told them that God goes with you "...to fight for you against your enemies, to save you" (Deut. 20:4). Their neighbors learned the truth behind their claim: "Our God is the God of salvation, and the pathways leading forth from death are those of the Lord's Lord" (Ps. 67:20 LXX). "He saved them for His Name's sake, that He might make known His mighty power" (Ps. 105:8 LXX).

God, you see, had a greater plan. He was preparing salvation for all nations, a plan to break the power of death "thrown over all peoples" (Is. 25:7, 8). First, therefore, He made Israel alert to His coming salvation. They learned to say, "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord" (Prov. 21:31). God revealed that in days to come "I will raise unto David a righteous...King [Who] shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth" (Jer. 23:5), a King for all nations, born in David's lineage. This is the expectation that caught the shepherds' hearts in Bethlehem (Lk. 2:15).

"And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom..." (Lk. 2:40), for the grace of God was upon Him. Joseph, His Mother, and the teachers in the Temple were amazed as His wisdom unfolded. His understanding and knowledge of spiritual truth were astonishing to all, even when He was a young boy (Lk. 2:46, 47). The Seed of salvation Who came forth from the Virgin's womb emerged as the Savior of the world. Jesus matured into the Name given Him before His conception (Lk. 2:21). "Glory to Thine ineffable condescension, O Word!"

Eternal God, as Thou didst give Thine Incarnate Son the holy Name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation, implant also in our hearts the love of Him Who is the Savior of the World.

From a Sermon by Basil the Great on the Circumcision of Jesus

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