1 : one that saves from danger or destruction
Savior was also a popular term in Greek and Roman cultures way back in the day.
Have you ever thought about it this way? With pop culture today many plots in movies have a savior. From Spiderman to Evan Almighty.
What about the music world? The Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded a song called Savior
What about comic books? There is a super hero called Savior.
Are we starting to see a pattern here? There is something in us that just feeds off of this concept of a Savior.
How about TV? Ever watch the show 24? Kiefer Sutherland's character Jack Bauer is what some might call a functional savior in the show. He is like MacGyver meets Jason Bourne from the movie Bourne Identity. Jack Bauer can take down nations with a handgun and a cell phone that gets reception on every square inch of this planet.
Even the trailer from this past season used the word sacrifice in it. It was Jack Bauer's job to save the world.
How about video games? If you play War Craft you might have acquired the robe of a savior. Also my wife shared with me that there is a brand of jeans for women call Savior.
What about the upcoming election – people are calling the candidates potential saviors. Not only that they are calling themselves saviors. "Don't vote for that guy because he will eat you or run over your dog or kick your cat. Not me, I am your savior!"
Have you realized that you can take a pill for anything now? It's all extra strength. Its like, "I would like a dosage that will kill me, and then back it off just a little!" You take the pill, feel better and that becomes a functional savior.
For me personally I can get rid of nasal drip hell as long as I continue to take my Allegra. Without it, living in Texas, I would be a snotty mess and I would sneeze all over you.
How about religion? You get to be your own savior. If you are a Muslim, you save yourself by living a life of good deeds…. (I guess Muslims need to help us understand what they consider good deeds!)
If you are a New Ager, you save yourself by understanding that you are apart of the oneness of all things being the same God. "Hey Blake, can you explain that?" "ummm, No, No I can't! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA."
If you like cults and you are a Scientologist you are saved because you are your own God. So, who is Lord Xenu? Anyway!
What is interesting to me and maybe I am wrong here, but it seems that the world relies on a savior. Again from media to religion!
Let me go back to the question I started with. What is a savior? I think Webster's helped us out there. So, then if we know what a savior is, than who is THE savior? Not pop culture savior or personal religion savior, but the REAL SAVIOR?
Let's camp out in the book of Isaiah for a second.
Isaiah 43:11/I Am the Lord and apart from me there is NO savior
Isaiah 45:21/Declare what is to be, present it— let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD ? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.
Isaiah 60:16/ I, the Lord am your savior
Isaiah 62:11/ 'See, your Savior comes!
700 years before the coming of Jesus. This Truth is spoken over and over. So for hundreds of years people were waiting for their savior.
Jesus then walks in on the scene from Nazarene!
So looking at Jesus and his death, burial and resurrection we see savior intertwined throughout his life. Savior is connected to every aspect of who Jesus is.
The New Testament speaks of the Savior 24 times. 16 of those times are speaking in direct regards to Jesus.
But let's back up a little bit and take a look at what the angel said in Luke 2:11 / Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Christ the Lord.
Do you like so many others when Christmas comes around celebrate the birth of Jesus but forget that the baby in the manger is the Savior of the world?
Friends, from Isaiah saying the savior is coming to the angel saying the savior is here and the rest of the never-ending evidence that Jesus is the Savior – why then did and does the world want a savior but the world won't accept the ONE TRUE SAVIOR?
In closing lets look at the second definition that absolutely shocked me, but yes, it is found in the Webster's dictionary.
Savior:
2 : one who brings salvation; specifically capitalized : JESUS