“For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
I have been trying to figure out why the above verse says, “a” Savor, instead of “the” Savior. Were the people waiting on multiple Saviors? Surely not. A Savior to only some? Possibly.
I searched other versions thinking someone got the article wrong in translation. Nothing. All the reputable versions say, “a Savior.”
Why does it matter? What do you think? What’s the difference between “a Savior” versus “the Savior?” One is one of many. The other is the One and Only. Were the angels just trying to speak the shepherds language? The angels said this, to the shepherds, who were watching their fields by night. Did the shepherds get it wrong when they told the story? Surely not. Did the angels get it wrong? How would they be perfect little angels if they did something wrong?
After the angel told the shepherds about a Savior, the shepherds went and saw the baby born, “who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 11:2).
He might just be a Savior, but He’s also Christ, the Lord. How many lords? One! The Lord. Yes, He’s the only Savior, and LORD. Below are a few more insights into why Jesus is referred to as a Savior versus the Savior.
1. One commentary did note the importance of Jesus being born a Savior as opposed to one day becoming a Savior (Critical Commentary And Explanation On The Whole Bible).
2. Another important point comes in Acts 13:23, “from the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus.” The same word for “a Savior” is used in both Luke 11:2 and Acts 13:23. In other words, it’s not that Jesus is one Savior among many. It’s that God’s solution to man’s problem of sin was to provide a Savior.
In other words, God was telling the shepherds through the angels that He was providing them with a solution to their problems via, a Savior. Of course He’s the Savior, because He’s the solution. But the angel couldn’t say “the Savior” because the shepherds weren’t exactly expecting a Savior to save them from their sin, especially in the form of a baby!
Imagine a baby girl, Suzie, separated from her mother at birth and placed in an orphanage. Imagine if they were fleeing a terrible injustice and Suzie going to an orphanage meant she would be safe until the mom could get free. Meanwhile, after years of fighting, the mom finally gets released. She tracks down the orphanage and contacts them. After various identification checks, it’s finally confirmed that she can pick up her daughter, Suzie. The day comes for Suzie to meet her mom, but Suzie thinks it’s just another day! She doesn’t know her mom is coming. So little Suzie starts acting up that day. Then lo and behold, the orphanage director hears about it. The orphanage director says to little Suzie who has been acting up, “you know what you need?” Suzie looks up confused through tears as the orphanage director continues, “A momma!”
Little Suzie doesn’t know what a momma is! The orphanage is all she’s ever known. The orphanage director goes on to say, “Suzie, there’s a momma coming here today and she said she wants to take you home with her.”
Little Suzie doesn’t know if she likes the sound of that because the orphanage is all she’s ever known. Then the orphanage director says, “she’s not just any momma Suzie. She’s YOUR momma! She’s been searching for you and she’s coming today!” Well let’s imagine there’s a happy ending to this story.
Just like little Suzie needed a momma, we need a Savior for our sin. Suzie’s best solution to her problem wasn’t just any momma, but her own momma. Our best solution to our problem of sin isn’t just any Savior, but Christ the Lord! Our solution to continual bad habits isn’t sheer willpower, it’s a Savior, Christ the Lord.
