Jesus Christ came into this world as God in human form, as a baby, as a Son, and stood in the gap for all our sins. Jesus is the Merciful Saviour to deliver us from sin. The wages of sin is death. But Jesus broke the sting of death and stood in the gap so that the curse of death that comes because of sin would not come upon us.

Because of the sin of the first Adam, death came upon all mankind. But through the last Adam, Jesus Christ, life came to all. As written in 1 Corinthians 15:22, through the death of the first Adam, but through the last Adam, Jesus, we are given life. So that we may not enter into the death that came through the first Adam, Jesus, the last Adam, stood in the gap for us. How merciful Saviour he is.

Now, let us clearly see from the Holy Scriptures who stood in the gap, how they stood, and how they saved others.

Examples of Intercession and Deliverance in the Bible

1. Noah’s Ark

So that Noah and his family would not perish in the flood, the ark made of gopher wood stood in the gap and saved them from destruction. (Genesis 6:3–4, Hebrews 11:7)

2. Abraham

So that Lot would not perish along with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah—who were filled with violence and sexual immorality—Abraham’s prayer stood in the gap and saved Lot from the fire judgment. (Genesis 18:23, 2 Peter 2:7)

3. Moses

When the Israelites became idol worshipers and disobedient, Moses’ prayer stood in the gap so that they would not be destroyed. (Exodus 32:9–14)

4. The Blood of the Lamb

The blood of the lamb applied to the doorposts of the Israelites stood in the gap and protected their firstborn sons from death at the hands of the destroying angel. (Exodus 12:12–13)

5. Rahab’s Scarlet Cord

The scarlet cord tied by Rahab in faith stood in the gap so that she and her family would not perish with the disobedient people of Jericho. (Joshua 2:17–19; 6:23)

6. Gideon and Barak

Through the faith and obedience of Gideon and Barak, the Israelites were saved from destruction at the hands of the Midianites and Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army. (Judges 7:19–25; 4:15)

7. The Spirit of God upon Jephthah

So that the Israelites would not perish by the Ammonites, the Spirit of God upon Jephthah stood in the gap and delivered them. (Judges 11:29–33)

8. David

So that Israel would not be disgraced or destroyed by Goliath, the young boy David stood in the gap and delivered Israel from the Philistine giant. (1 Samuel 17:26, 50)

9. Abigail

When David set out in anger to destroy Nabal’s household, wise and discerning Abigail intervened and stood in the gap so that Nabal’s family would not perish. (1 Samuel 25:20, 33)

10. Samuel

Samuel’s prayer stood in the gap so that Israel would not be destroyed by their enemies. (1 Samuel 7:8–12)

11. The Anointing

Though Saul was driven by jealousy and sought to kill David, the anointing of the Lord upon Saul stood in the gap so that David would not kill him. (1 Samuel 24:6)

12. Esther

Through Esther’s fasting and prayer, the destruction planned against the Jews was stopped, and they were delivered from the hands of Haman the Agagite. (Esther 9:25)

13. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel

Their faith and devotion stood in the gap so that they were saved, without even the smell of fire, from the fiery furnace and from the mouths of lions. (Daniel 3:26–28; 6:20)

14. Nineveh

Because of the repentance and prayers of the people of Nineveh, God turned from His wrath, and the city was saved from destruction. (Jonah 3:10)

The Merciful Saviour – Jesus Christ

As we see, Abraham, Moses, Abigail, Rahab’s scarlet cord, Samuel, and the anointing of Saul all stood in the gap and saved people from physical death during times of danger.

The name Jesus itself means merciful Saviour. All these were saviours, but not perfect saviours. They could not be saved from eternal hell. Only Jesus Christ is the merciful Saviour, who has the power to save completely and eternally.

As written in Hebrews 7:25, He can save completely those who come to God through Him.

When Peter was sinking, Jesus saved him when he cried out (Matthew 14:30), Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), He is the Saviour of all people (1 Timothy 4:10), He came to seek and save what was lost (Luke 19:10). He is the One who gives life (Mark 3:4). He saves as if pulling someone out of fire. He did not come to save Himself, but to save many (Luke 24:35 to 43).

In the days to come, many deliverers will arise (Obadiah 1:21). But they can save only a limited people, like Abigail, who saved only her household, or David, who saved only Israel. They cannot save everyone from sin, curse, and hell.

Merciful Saviour Jesus Christ came to save us

As God had promised beforehand, Jesus Christ came into this world for you and for me.

During this Christmas season, we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. For Christmas, we often rejoice in many worldly things, but what we must especially remember is this: Our merciful Saviour Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to save us, even though we are sinners.

Jesus Christ came to seek and to save what was lost in this world. We, who were struggling in sin and destined for hell, were redeemed by His precious blood. To claim us as His own, He came down to this earth in human form.

The punishment we deserved, the shame we deserved, and the eternal death hell that we deserved, He took upon Himself. For you and for me, He showed a great and powerful love by offering even His own life. To such a great God and Merciful Saviour, we must give a place in our hearts.

Let us live in such a way that we celebrate Christmas every day, by carrying Jesus Christ in our hearts daily. Just as there was a place for God in a humble manger and in a garden, in the same way we must prepare a place for Jesus Christ in our hearts.

Therefore, may the Merciful Saviour Lord grant you the blessedness of embracing the Saviour who delivers from hell, the child Jesus Himself. May the merciful Saviour God Almighty bless you abundantly.