Despite the progress of technology, education, and politics, the world is still full of wars and rumors of wars. Pain and violence abound. Lust and addictions are rampant. Sickness and disease are widespread. Families are broken. People are divided. And the love of money is still the root of all kinds of evil. One thing remains painfully obvious. We need a savior.
When Jesus walked the earth, he didn’t just offer good advice. He never claimed to be a good teacher. Jesus claimed to be the Savior of the world.
It was the week of Passover and Jesus knew it would be his last. Amidst a crowd in Jerusalem, Jesus cried out, “I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.” (John 12:47) Who would dare to make such a claim? Many hope to change the world, but no one says they came to save the world. No one except Jesus.
The university I attended was started in the city of Los Angeles in 1908. In the 1930s they placed seven foot tall, red neon letters on the roof of their downtown building. This sign became iconic for it’s simple two-word message: Jesus saves.
But what does ‘saved’ mean? In Jesus’ own words, saved is the opposite of judged. Throughout the gospel of John, we see that sin is equated with darkness, “and this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” (John 3:19)
Humanity has fallen. We have chosen sin rather than obedience, death over life, and darkness over light. We, who were God’s capstone of creation, chose to become his enemies. We committed treason against our true country and rebellion against our true King. As a result, we all are under God’s judgment.
And God doesn’t look the other way and pretend it never happened. God does not sweep sin under the rug. Sin requires a payment. And the wages of sin is death and eternal separation from God in hell. The stakes couldn’t be higher. We need a savior.
In God’s kindness, the true light, which gives light to everyone, was sent into the world. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)
Jesus saves. These are the two greatest words. His death was the price. His blood our sacrifice. One man for many, the Son of God for the sons and daughters of men. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
If this is true, what will you do?
© John Rinehart 2026