Redeemer, Saviour, Friend
As we get to verse 3 of Blessed Be the Name, Jesus is still in full focus. But instead of singing of Him in this verse, we begin to sing to Him. Listen closely:
Redeemer, Saviour, Friend of man
Once ruined by the fall,
You have devised salvation's plan,
For You have died for all.
The writer says that humans have been ruined by the fall - in other words, when Adam sinned, humankind became infected with a sin problem, and now each of us is born in sin. But Jesus, the writer says, devised a plan to save humankind, which was for Him to die for all on the cross. What a wonderful truth to celebrate in song.
And I love these three titles of Jesus in this verse - Redeemer, Saviour, Friend. Let's look briefly at each one, and perhaps there is one that you really need to hold onto today.
Jesus Our Redeemer and Saviour
First, Jesus is Redeemer. According to Google, to redeem something can have two meanings: to "compensate for the faults or bad aspects of" something. Though we are sinful and faulty, Jesus compensates for our shortcomings through His death on the cross. Hallelujah. And redeem can also mean to "gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for payment". Though our sin created spiritual death and separation from God, He purchased us back by giving His life on the cross. We are now God's again, if our faith is in Christ. So perhaps you need to hold onto Christ as Redeemer today.
Saviour is a similar concept. Because of our sin, we are indeed separated from God and held captive by dark forces, as Scripture teaches us. But Jesus came to save us from our sins, as Matthew 1 says. So when our faith is in Christ, we are freed from the punishment of sin, and from the power of sin, and one day we'll be freed from the presence of sin in heaven. Isn't that wonderful news? Perhaps you need to remember today that Christ is Saviour in these ways.
Jesus Our Friend
Third, the song says that Jesus is a Friend to humans. In fact there is another Canaan Melody I recorded shortly before this one which talks of the divine friendship we can have with Jesus. He had told His disciples that He no longer called them servants, but friends - if they do what He commanded. Here's a question: are you following the commands of your great Friend Jesus, and enjoying sweet fellowship with Him in prayer and Scripture reading and worship, day by day?
Jesus is Redeemer, Saviour, Friend - even to us who were ruined by the fall. His saving grace redeemed us and brought us into friendship with the divine! Sing this verse again, and celebrate how Jesus fulfils these roles in your life.
