February 8

Rock of Salvation

This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. — Mark 1:1 BSB

Mark makes it clear that there should be no misunderstanding about who our Lord is. Each name he uses reflects a different aspect of His character.

Jesus means "Savior." As the angel said, “You shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” There is no name sweeter than this, enshrined in every Christian heart. This name brings hope to our souls. The first thing we all need is to be saved, and He is the only Savior.

Christ means "the Anointed One." He is the one anointed by the Father to be prophet, priest, and king. As our prophet, He teaches us; as our priest, He intercedes for us, having already offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins; and as our king, we owe Him our obedience.

Son of God tells of His divine nature and eternal sonship. This name gives security to all our hopes and trust. If Jesus were only a man, He could be tender, loving, and kind, but could He do all that we need? Could a man atone for our sins? Could a man breathe life into our dead souls? Could a man fight our battles and rescue us from Satan’s grip? Could a man save us from death and carry us through the dark mystery into glory? Could a man stand in for us on the day of judgment? Christ’s divinity is the rock of our hope and salvation. Our Savior and anointed King is the Son of God. We can lean on His chest and know that we are wrapped in divinity, that our refuge is the eternal God, and that the arms holding us are everlasting. No danger can snatch us away, for no power is mightier than God’s.