“Save us,” from the time of trial (or
temptation) and from evil. We confess, as Christian people, that Jesus Christ
is our Saviour and, indeed, the Saviour of the whole world.
If given but-a-minute-or-so to explain
to someone who knows nothing about Jesus who he is, the easiest thing to say is
that he is the “Saviour of the world.” But if that person asks, “saves us from
what?” Our task has become a whole lot more difficult.
So, here’s my but-a-minute-or-so answer
to that second question, “saves us from what?”
Jesus saves us from ourselves; from our
arrogance; from thinking that we can do it on our own; or that we don’t need
God. Jesus saves us from ourselves; from our laziness; from thinking that we
don’t need to be concerned for anyone but ourselves or that what we need should
just be handed to us. Jesus saves us from ourselves; from our maddening
consumption; from the idea that fast cars, fast food, fast lives satisfy us at
all. Jesus saves us from ourselves; from our desire; from the thought that
glossy, superficial qualities are all that we need. Jesus saves us from ourselves;
from our greed; from being tightfisted or miserly and thinking that these are
qualities to be honored. Jesus saves us from ourselves; from our melancholy and
depression; as if there are no other possibilities for us, as if there is no
joy. Jesus saves us from ourselves; from our wrath and anger; from thinking
that - in life - there is only darkness.
It is good news indeed that Jesus is the
Saviour of the world, the one who brings freedom from sin and freedom to
worship God with abandon, as if no one is watching. The joy is so awesome that
laughter turns to tears and back again. In the face of all that God does for us
is sheer joy and a prayer that simply says, “thank you, thank you, thank you!
Amen! Alleluia!”
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