By Russ Ramsey
We have a Savior. We, the guilty, helpless, and lost ones who have rebelled against God, have a Savior. We, who have broken faith with His commands and sought to love ourselves more than we love Him, have a Savior.
Think about that for a moment. We begin this short reading plan focused on hope-filled hymns and Scriptures celebrating the fact that we have a Savior.
But what kind of Savior is He?
Isaiah 53 tells us Jesus is the servant of the Lord who was, in every way, ordinary in appearance. His birth was like a root out of dry ground—unnoticed by almost everyone. He had no beauty that would draw people to Him. He would not walk an easy road. His life would be filled with sorrow. He would be despised (vv.1–3).
But Jesus came to be our “Man of Sorrows,” taking our grief upon Himself and carrying our sadness. Yes, people caused Him great suffering in His last days, but they were not the ones to crush Him. God was the One who did that. Jesus was wounded for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. And the punishment that would bring us peace was laid upon Him (vv. 4–6).
Guilty, helpless, lost were we;
blameless Lamb of God was He,
sacrificed to set us free:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Jesus willingly submitted to His Father’s plan. As the full weight of God’s wrath toward the sins of His people was placed upon our Savior, Jesus received it. When He could have defended Himself, He stayed silent, like a lamb led to slaughter. He was struck dead as a sacrifice for the sins of God’s people, even though He had done no violence.
God laid upon His servant the iniquity of His people. Jesus took God’s wrath toward our sins upon Himself. He stood in for us as our substitute in death, and God looked upon this substitution and was satisfied.
God did not perform a magic trick to secure our salvation. It was a life for a life. The Suffering Servant—God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ—came incarnate as a living, breathing man in order to die a real death in our place. But since death held no claim on Him, He rose from the grave, securing our victory over death forever.
This is our Savior. What other response should our hearts have but to sing, “Hallelujah! What a Savior!”
Written by Russ Ramsey
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Text and Tune: Philip P. Bliss, 1875
Man of sorrows what a name
for the Son of God, who came
ruined sinners to reclaim:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
in my place condemned He stood,
sealed my pardon with His blood:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Guilty, helpless, lost were we;
blameless Lamb of God was He,
sacrificed to set us free:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
He was lifted up to die;
“It is finished” was His cry;
now in heaven exalted high:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
then anew this song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
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