THE SAVIOR

Jesus Christ The Savior

Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.  But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.  And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?"   But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.  "For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village. Luke 9:51-56

It’s not the devil who goes around saving lives but Jesus Christ. When He walked on earth God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. He demonstrated God’s love, care, concern and compassion for lost, sick, and hurting humanity. He fulfilled the plan and purposes of God, so that others could be anointed and do what He had done and had demonstrated and commanded:

After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Luke 10:1-2

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mark 16:16-20

The problem of shortages of true laborers who are obedient to the commands of Jesus is not the fault of God but the fault of man including the fact that many do not pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest and others put restrictions of God on what He can or cannot do. But God’s word is unchanging:

Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Matthew 4:24

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, Matthew 8:16

The seventy others who were appointed and anointed by Jesus to preach the good news of Christ, to heal the sick and to cast out demons were obedient and they came back with joy. The bible records:

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."  And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:17-20

While salvation of souls is the greatest miracle, the healing of bodies, mind and spirit are also miracles that God wants to do in the midst of men if He could only get obedient and willing laborers. God takes no pleasure in seeing people sick, poor, defeated, disgusted and busted. Jesus Christ came to redeem man and restore to him all that he had lost in the Garden of Eden including the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. In Eden man was whole body, soul and spirit and could hear the voice of God clearly. But after the fall, man really fell and was no longer whole body, soul and spirit. Yet God’s word is unchanging:

And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.  And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?"

 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: "If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.  "This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'  "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:5-12

In Christ Jesus we have a friend and a High Priest who is able to understand and sympathize with us who as a man shared the feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, who was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. As a result, we can fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in for every need! As we mix the Word of God especially the promises in it we can have great profit as a result because God is a Good God and a great and wonderful miracle working God. We can take great assurance that God has never abdicated being God no matter what men or demons say or do. He is our refuge and strength, and a very present help in trouble.  His word is true:

Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed,  And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;  Though its waters roar and be troubled,  Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,  The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.  God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;  God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.  The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;  He uttered His voice, the earth melted.The LORD of hosts is with us;  The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah   Come, behold the works of the LORD,  Who has made desolations in the earth  He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;  He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.  Be still, and know that I am God;  I will be exalted among the nations,  I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:1-10