For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11 (ESV)

Among other things announced by the angel of the Lord is that a Savior had been born. A Savior.

Before His birth an angel of the Lord told Joseph that this Child would be named Jesus, which means the Lord saves. Why the name Jesus? For He will save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Therefore, Jesus had a unique mission – to save His people from their sins. It was unique not because it was new. For centuries God’s people had longed for salvation.

Consider the Israelites at Mount Sinai. As God was giving the Law to Moses, the people committed a great sin by making a golden calf and worshipping it. In the aftermath of this incredible scene Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD, perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” But Moses couldn’t make atonement for the people – he couldn’t save them – because Moses had his own sins. He also needed a Savior.

Also consider the Day of Atonement. In the Law, God gave a detailed system of sacrifices precisely because God knew His people would sin, and God had to deal with their sin. The Day of Atonement was a major part of the sacrificial system. One day a year the high priest entered the Holy of Holies – the room in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple) that represented God’s presence on earth – to atone for his own sins and the sins of the people. But the people were constantly reminded that their sacrifices were not enough. Hebrews 10:11 says, “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.”

And so, through the years, God’s people longed for salvation. But God had a plan in motion from before the foundation of the world, before we had sinned, before we would need salvation. God had a plan to save His people from their sins. Therefore, Jesus had a unique mission, because He, God, was the only One who could save.

We are led to Jesus, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. He saved through His sacrifice. Although the priests repeatedly offered sacrifices that could never take away sins, Hebrews 10:12 and following says, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God … For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put My Law on their hearts, and write them on their minds,’ then He adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.”
Jesus. A Savior – the only Savior. Christ the Lord.
Once again, we are led to Jesus. We are led to Jesus as Savior. We are led away from sin and led toward becoming like Jesus. We are led to a life of purpose, joy, hope, freedom, peace, and so much more.