Sometimes when I speak at retreats, I’ll ask people to call out the first word that comes to mind when they think about Jesus. I love this moment because we all learn so much about people, their stories, and what Jesus means to them. Shepherd! Savior! Love! Healer! Redeemer! I love seeing the glow on the faces of people as they tell the crowd what Jesus means to them.
What would you have called out?
For me, the word is Rescuer.
Rescuer! The first thing I always think of when I think of Jesus is how He rescues us from ourselves, from sin, from the world, and from evil. He rescues us and now seats us with Him and keeps us forever.
Psalm 18 is a psalm of rescue. If you read it, you’ll find that verb repeated. I love this part in particular:
He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
In the New Testament, I love 2 Timothy 4:18: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Consider the great love of God and how He sent Jesus to rescue you.