The Savior We Needed Not The Savior We Wanted

An Article by

Pastor Bobby Clark

John 3:16-17 ESV

"[16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

I've always loved action movies and TV shows. They are my absolute favorite genre for movies and TV shows. In particular I love the old tough, and rough action hero. Like the ones from those old westerns. That has a hero that that people don't truly want, but is the hero that they need. And I guess I just like that theme in general. No matter what the media is. Because besides the story telling aspect. It also says a lot about human nature. We always get this picture of what we truly want in life. Rather than in a significant other, in a friend, in a job and career, or in a hero and savior. However, there are times in life when what we want is not what we need. We see this theme in the Christian faith and in the Bible as well. When talking about a savior, no one pictured someone like Jesus. This is the case for most of us. Jesus is not the savior that we pictured in our minds, or the savior we waited. BUT JESUS IS THE SAVIOR WE NEEDED!

Why do we need a savior in the first place. It starts with Adam and Eve. God created Adam and Eve to live in Harmony with Him. So that they could worship and praise God. However, they disobeyed God and the command that He had given Adam and Eve. See they were in the Garden of Eden, and God told Adam to name all the animals. God then told them that if they got hungry they could eat any of the fruits of the trees. Except for the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, or the Tree of Life. However, they were tricked by the serpent (The Devil) to disobey God and eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This act of disobedience from Adam and Eve welcomed sin in to the world. Genesis 3:8, 10-14

"[8] And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. [10] And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” [11] He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” [12] The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” [13] Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” [14] The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life."(ESV) This marks what happens right after they disobey God which welcomed sin into the world. You see sin is basically being disobedient to God. This act of disobedience is known as original sin. God is then forced to send them away. Because Adam and Eve now had darkness and sin. This is what John tells us in his letter 1 John. 1 John 1:5-7,

"[5] This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. [6] If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." (ESV) Since Adam and Eve brought sin into the world. They could no longer be in the presence of God, like they were. Which then means sin and disobedience became part of our flesh. This is why we are all sinners, and why we needed a savior. Because we needed a sacrifice that would undo sin and allow us back in harmony with God. It is not because of us, but because of what Jesus did on the Cross. But we will get back to that later. This is why we needed a savior. A sacrifice that would make us holy. The problem is that Jesus is not the savior most people wanted.

This first example of this comes from God's chosen people the Israelites. God told His people all throughout the Old Testament that He was going to send a savior. Genesis 3:15 "[15] I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." (ESV) Even right when the fall happened. God had a plan for a savior. God then continued to tell of the coming of a savior, that would save His people. The problem is that the picture that the Israelites had as their savior, was nothing like that of Jesus. Which is interesting, because Jesus completes every prophecy that the Old testament talks about when talking about a savior. But this is not who the Israelites wanted as a savior. In their mind and in the Jewish faith, they wanted a warrior king. Someone who was from royalty. A king who would destroy all of Israel's enemies. The Messiah is a future redeemer and liberator figure, not a divine savior. Jews believe the Messiah will be a human leader, a descendant of King David, who will restore Israel to its rightful place, rebuild the Temple, and usher in an era of peace. This vision is not about salvation from sin, but about the redemption of Israel as a nation. As I said, they didn't want a divine leader. They wanted a powerful king who restore them back to a place of power. And by doing so would bring peace. But that is not the savior that the Jewish people needed, or who we needed. I guess you can say that the savior the Jewish people have is a lot smaller than the savior that we got. They just wanted someone to more or less defeat the Roman Empire. But Jesus defeated sin and death. And will defeat the evil one and all his children. However, the Israelites or Jewish people are not the only ones who want a different type of savior then Jesus.

We in this modern world want a savior or need a savior. However, we do not want Jesus as a savior either. I believe everyone, both believers and non-believers want a savior. We all know that we live in a dark world, that needs a savior. This is not news to anyone. But like the Isrealights, non-believers reject Jesus as well. The question is why. One big part of this is because a lot of people want to be saved their way. They do not want to deny their own desires. Jesus talks about this in the gospels. That if we want to follow Him. We must deny our sinful desires. Luke 9:23-26,"[23] And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. [24] For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. [25] For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? [26] For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." We all would rather do life how we want to. Rather then picking up our cross and denying ourselves. Now some of us, who are Christians have made the decision to deny ourselves and ask Jesus to be our Savior. But there are still many people out there who still deny Jesus as their Savior. Yes there might be multiple reasons why they reject Jesus. But there are multiple reasons why to first believe in a powerful God. And multiple reasons why to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. But they would rather have a savior who would allow them to do whatever they want. They want a savior that only hits their boxs. Jesus is just not they savior most people want. At least until God seeks them out and call them to Himself. Between that and believers going out making disciples of everyone. Hopefully non-believers will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

This leads us to why Jesus is the Savior we need. The simple answer is because of the cross. Jesus. As I said before, God needed a way for us to be in harmony with Him again. This is where Jesus came in. "[16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." John 3:16-17 (ESV). Jesus was born of man, so that he could live a sinless and blameless life. So that he could be the ultimate sacrifice. To wash away our sins. "10 Our sins are washed away and we are made clean because Christ gave His own body as a gift to God. He did this once for all time. 11 All Jewish religious leaders stand every day killing animals and giving gifts on the altar. They give the same gifts over and over again. These gifts cannot take away sins. 12 But Christ gave Himself once for sins and that is good forever. After that He sat down at the right side of God." Hebrews 10:10-12 (ESV). Jesus is the only way we could be saved by our sins. We could and can not save ourselves. Paul tells us in the letter to Romans that the law was given to us to follow, and the law is good. We still cannot follow the law perfectly. This is why we need Jesus. So he could follow the law. Be perfect in the eyes of God. And then be the perfect sacrifice for us all. Paul then says this Romans 3:22-26, "[22] the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. [26] It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (ESV). We don't have to do anything more then put our faith into Jesus Christ. Accept Him as our Lord and Savior. And put our trust in Him. And He will save us from our sins. This is great news, that we should rejoice in. Romans 6:23, "[23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This is the Savior that we all need. If you are a believer, let us take joy in this fact. And come closer to Jesus in our relationship with Him. And for my friends who are not believers. I pray that you will accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Because there truly is no better or no other savior out there. Only Jesus can save you from your sins.

The other reason why Jesus is the one we all need. Is because His victory has already been foretold. I mentioned earlier that the savior that the Israelites wanted was some war hero. And that they were surprised when that was not Jesus. But I will say this. In the book of Revelations. It says that Jesus will return, to defeat the devil for good. And when He returns, Jesus will be the war hero that the Israelites wanted. Actually Jesus will be even greater and stronger then what the Isrealights wanted their savior to be. In Revelation 19:11-16 John describes Jesus this way, "[11] Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. [13] He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. [14] And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. [15] From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." This is what Jesus will look like when He returns. And the better news is that we know that Jesus will win the war against the evil one and His children. This is the Savior that we need, and the savior that we have.

All in all, Jesus might not be the savior we want. But Jesus is the Savior and Lord that we need. Its only through Him and the act of dying on the cross. That we get to spend eternal life with God. So let us rejoice, worship, and praise our Savior JESUS CHRIST!!