Does Jesus Really S A V E Just Anyone?

Would a drowning person accept help? 

We find it quite plainly said that Jesus saves sinners (not drowners, as such).

Jesus is called “The Saviour”; that is, the one who saves.
In the early part of the account of Jesus a group of terrified followers were in a small boat on a wild sea. Jesus was with them but he was down the back asleep on the pillow. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” (Matthew 8:25 NIV). It is a curious thing that Jesus was asleep as the danger grew. It is striking that they looked to Jesus to rescue them from their mutual peril. (Mark 4 and Luke 8 report it differently, in terms of Jesus' seeming distressing oblivion to their peril.) Nonetheless, the word "save" in Matthew's text has the obvious meaning of performing a rescue. In all of the reports Jesus refers to faith being missing (apparently in the absence of trust). He seemed to expect they would not be afraid; this is clearly stated in Mark 5. He then acted and they were astounded.

 
A little further on we read of a woman desperately needing healing from blood loss. Ceremonially unclean, for twelve years she had vainly spent money with healers (Mark 5). Now, she stealthily approached crowded Jesus. She was unseen. I suspect she was fearfully hiding from others. She touched him. Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that moment (Matt 9:22 NRSVUE). The word "well" in that report (as also in Mark 5 and Luke 8) is the same word used for "save". She had been saved by Jesus from ongoing disease and suffering; from shame and community exclusion. "Take heart", said Jesus. I wonder if a ripple of recognition and rejection had begun when she was no longer hidden? As with the incident with the disciples in the boat, Jesus' action had averted bad consequences which could otherwise have been the case. By trusting Jesus and believing in him and coming, she had been healed. In faith she had come to him. (See below for the Leviticus Law which would have applied to the woman.)

 
Much earlier, we can see the first statement of Jesus’ saviourship on the day of his birth. That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord's glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. But the angel said, “Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. This very day in King David's hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay” (Luke 2:8-12 CEV). A Saviour, they were told.

Even earlier than that, at the time it was discovered that unmarried Mary was pregnant, Joseph was considering how he had to break off their "engagement" but did not want to be unkind. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21 CSB). I wonder how much it reassured Joseph to hear the (unborn) child was to save his people from their sins?
Notice that it is the child's people who are to be saved from their sins. That seems exclusive, for the child's people were the people of the Temple and the Law, the Jews. However, we need to consider more than only the above narrow statement. Please read on. The child's people would become unimaginably numerous!

Moreover, I might ask, why do any people need to be saved from their sins? What is our danger?
I could consider (again) the very concise words from Paul the apostle: Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23 CEV). Long before that we can read: The person who sins is the one who will die. A son won’t suffer punishment for the father’s iniquity, and a father won’t suffer punishment for the son’s iniquity (Ezekiel 18:20 CSB). Each person is responsible for their own life. To commit sin is to die - for your own sin only, said Ezekiel. Who is without sin?
So the danger is death? Since we (and they) all know that our days are numbered and we all must cease breathing, the meaning is that a death that is not to do with breath can be avoided. In fact, life can be gained. This is what the Saviour does for all who let him save them.

In another place Jesus spoke of complete destruction. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete” (Luke 6:46-49 NIV). That is similar to Jesus saying: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Matthew 7:13-14 ESV). So Jesus provides the escape, he is the gate for the breathing to enter into life.

Jesus is the true gate; not only the gate, he is the shepherd: Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.[a] They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep (John 10:9-11 NLT). The image would have been familiar at the time.  There is a way to be saved as there was for sheep back then..
The ancient keeper of sheep, the shepherd, probably did not own the sheep. The shepherd spent the day with the animals, guiding them to pasture safely. At night the animals were securely penned in an enclosure with an open doorway. The shepherd slept across the door opening, and was the needed door of the sheepfold. The danger was real; there were predators on the prowl. Although it seems unlikely a paid sheep herder would sacrifice himself for his charges, that is what Jesus did to make salvation possible for his human sheep.

The idea of God as their shepherd was part of the good news message of the prophet:

Zion, herald of good news,

go up on a high mountain.

Jerusalem, herald of good news,

raise your voice loudly.

Raise it, do not be afraid!

Say to the cities of Judah,

“Here is your God!”

See, the Lord God comes with strength,

and his power establishes his rule.

His wages are with him,

and his reward accompanies him.

He protects his flock like a shepherd;

he gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them in the fold of his garment.

He gently leads those that are nursing (Isaiah 40:9-11 CSB). 

In view of the shepherd picture applied here to the Lord God, Jesus' claim to be the Good Shepherd would have been another aggravation to any of his opponents who heard it. Unless they believed him then, or later.

After Jesus had given his life and risen from the dead the challenge was put to a Jerusalem crowd. They responded differently to the "crucify" crowd of a few weeks earlier. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers,[a] what should we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation” (Acts 2:37-40 NRSVUE). Yes, they and their compatriots were implicated in the rejection of Jesus but that rebellion could be forgiven, for through Jesus forgiveness was (is) offered. The danger did not simply arise from any role in the condemnation of Jesus. Sins call for judgement but may be forgiven. There we see this kind of saving work of Jesus proclaimed. by Peter.

The message of forgiveness availability continued to be announced. The message was supported by miraculous healings. The apostles insisted Jesus was alive and active. This annoyed the "powers-that-be" and the apostles were taken into custody and interrogated. They stoutly answered: This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone.[a] There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11-12 CSB). Just one avenue for survival, though it is more than simple continuation.

Further on in the book of Acts we read of a striking saving event for a jailer in the pay of Rome. This was in the Roman colony of Philippi and involved the imprisoned Paul and Silas. When the jailer woke up and saw that the doors were open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped. He pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul shouted, “Don't harm yourself! No one has escaped.” The jailer asked for a torch and went into the jail. He was shaking all over as he knelt down in front of Paul and Silas. After he had led them out of the jail, he asked, “What must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! This is also true for everyone who lives in your home.” Then Paul and Silas told him and everyone else in his house about the Lord (Acts 16:27-32 CEV). It might be possible to think that the jailer simply wanted deliverance from the threat of punishment by his superiors. However, that does not account for the baptism of the whole house, which followed their instruction about the Lord. What did the man mean when he asked how he could be saved? How did he understand "saved"?
We are not told exactly what the jailer had been hearing in the earlier part of the night when the battered believers were praying and singing, but we can see the content of the message taken to Philippi and everywhere. As an example, consider the message of Paul and companions in Pisidian Antioch: Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed[a] from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses (Acts 13:38-39 ESV). Free from the consequences of rebellion against God's law. That is what a Saviour can and will do for those who trust him.

Consider the instance of the woman known to be a "sinner". She came into personal contact with Jesus. Jesus spoke directly to her: Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 7:48-50 NIV). There we see the scandal of Jesus' saying he forgives sins. The woman had been saved, for she had been forgiven by Jesus as she trusted and would not receive the consequences she deserved. (The indignant men also actually deserved the same consequences!)

Jesus directly spoke about the risk of forfeiting so much. Then he said to them all, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit them if they gain the whole world but lose or forfeit themselves? (Luke 9 NRSVUE). Clearly Jesus said that, a great deal, an unimaginable consequence, rested on belonging to him. Saving and losing. Losing and saving. Someone in fiction said they would enjoy life first then become a follower. (Is that possible?)

Jesus had warned his followers of hard times: and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this town, flee to the next, for truly I tell you, you will not have finished going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes (Matthew 10:22-23 NRSVUE). The last bit of that presents a puzzle. Note that the followers are to deal with reality - to flee from persecution. They may, tragically, even come to a bad end, but as his followers they will be saved.

Jesus was questioned about the number of the saved. Jesus[b] went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able (Luke 13 NRSVUE). The "someone" may have been thinking of violence and survival, but Jesus answered about the peril of failing to enter.

Jesus' words on being saved were never forgotten. So, for example, But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-5 ESV). As the message was delivered, and received, people were being saved: For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2:15 CSB). On the day of Christ's return he will welcome his own and thus make salvation complete: So Christ died only once to take away the sins of many people. But when he comes again, it will not be to take away sin. He will come to save everyone who is waiting for him (Hebrews 9:28 CEV). Everyone waiting for him shall be saved.

Paul notably referred to the saving work of Christ from the perspective of past, present and future:  You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:6-10 NIV). Thus the believer rejoices in what God did, what God is doing and what God will do. The invitation stands. God's wrath is answered - by what God has done and does.

Tragically, people die on our beaches, especially if they are caught in a "rip" (strong flow), outside of the warning flags. Would an apparently drowning person refuse to accept the offer of a life preserver? What if it was thrown to them, would the person refuse to take hold of it? Or, would the instinct for self-preservation overcome any reluctance? Is the eternal life preserver being refused? Does the instinct for self-preservation not apply when it comes to being saved by Jesus?

Save just anyone? What about those monsters? I can know only about myself. I can know for sure what is freely offered to all. I admit to feeling sceptical about the possibility that the persistently arrogant, lawless, aggressive, hating people would in reality (inner attitude) accept the salvation Jesus offers to sinners who repent. Only those who repent.  

The unclean woman rule
Any woman who has a flow of blood outside her regular monthly period is unclean until it stops, just as she is during her monthly period. (Leviticus 15:25 CEV)
Blood was treated very seriously and disease prevention was an issue. However, I do not know anything definite to soften the severity of the Law on the "flow of blood" I expect it sadly became the basis to severe rules, which the woman had breached by coming. 

May you be blessed by God

Allen Hampton

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