To what name shall we address our Savior?

To what name shall we address our Savior?

Will that have any difference once he becomes the minister of God’s objective to bring redemption for us?  

In the Suffering Servant Songs he is called  “The Servant of the Lord” or “My Servant.”  (Is 42, 49, 50, 52-53).  

The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.  (Is 9: 1).    

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests.  They name him, “Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.”  (Is 9 5).  

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.  (Lk 1: 31).

The angel said to them (shepherds) “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.”  (Lk 2: 10 - 11).

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet.  There were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world now belongs to our Lord and to his Anointed, and he will reign forever and ever.”  (Rv 11: 15).   Christ is from the Greek term “Christos” which means Anointed.

Simon Peter said in reply to Jesus; “Who do you say that I am?”  "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”   (Mt 16: 16).

What we are about to celebrate is the birth of Jesus, Son of the living God; he is the awaited Messiah spoken of throughout Old Testament passages.  He is called Christ taken from the Greek for Christos meaning Anointed.  And he is the Anointed of God who comes as Savior for all his children.  

It is not any disrespect to call the Son of God Jesus, Lord, Savior, Messiah, or especially Christ.  Each Personal Noun is the Son of God who Incarnated himself, leaving his position in heaven, for a short interval, to reach as many as he could along with his apostles to save souls.  He then suffered, relating to the Suffering Servant Songs from Isaiah, died on the Cross of redemption, and rose after three days proving that resurrection also is ours through faith. 

Jesus is a name we should all bow to; Christ is his glorified and eternal entity that means forgiveness, and Messiah is used as a promise made to Israel which many refused to accept even as he healed, brought sight to the blind, and brought dead people back to life; (see the raising of Lazarus Jn 11: 1 - 44).  A cautious sign of respect is given to him who created us, humbled himself to assume our nature along with his divine nature, died and rose because of our sins; all because that is what the love of God is all about. 

Ralph B. Hathaway