Radio Sermon 29

Jesus Was Different                                 <return to table of contents>

Was Jesus only a man or what He really different than other men? This is the focal point of one of the longest debates in religious history. The two sides of the debate look at Christ totally differently. One views Him as a great man, a very charismatic person, and a man to be remembered long in history, but little more. The other views Christ as a blend of deity and humanity in which He was separate from all other men. Jesus was, is, and ever shall be the only Son of the Living God and can never be adequately described as "just a man." Stay tuned, we will study this beautiful Bible topic.

The gospel of John begins with this spectacular statement: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, not of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'" And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time, The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him" (John 1:1-18).

This selection of divine revelation is generally known as the Prolog of John's gospel. One must appreciate first the fact that the Word existed long before becoming flesh and dwelling among men. James Sanders has written, "The Word preexisted before the beginning. He already was when time began. Second, the Word was with God -- was with Him always. And third, the Word was fully divine. The Word was God. The words of John 1:1 are simple words but the thoughts, elegant and incredibly penetrating. The depth of what is stated here is as moving as is the dignity of expression." (Florida College Lectures, 1980, page 87).

Jesus became flesh by being born into this world as other babies, but even His birth was different. He was born of a virgin -- He had a flesh and blood mother, but not a flesh and blood father. Galatians 4:4 - 5 reads, "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." Another passage heralding this uniqueness of Christ is Romans 1:3 in which Paul speaks of the promise of God and adds, "concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." And we might all remember Paul's continued thoughts expressed in chapter 8. Beginning with verse 3 he wrote: "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh."

The Word is Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. The same John wrote three letters to Christians (called I, II, and III John) and affirmed, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life -- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us -- that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ" (I John 1:1-3). Jesus Christ, the Word of life, is eternal in His being. He was manifested in flesh as God among men. His very name demands this concept. This statement regarding His birth settles that.

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." (Matthew 1:23).

But Jesus became a man. In fact He is known to us as "the man Christ Jesus," who is the one mediator between God and man (I Timothy 2:5). He became a man in the fullest sense of human existence. The Hebrew writer affirms, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (Hebrews 2:9-10). As if to amplify the humanity of Jesus, the writer adds: "Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted" (verses 17-18).

We have seen Christ Jesus who as the eternal Word became flesh. He became flesh for four reasons: (1) He was made like His brethren, (2) He would make reconciliation for their sins, (3) He would destroy Satan and his power of death, and (4) He would become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God. Look at these four items. If Jesus had not come in the flesh He would not have suffered as men suffer and thus would not have left them an example to follow (I Peter 2:21). He would not have given Himself as the only ransom acceptable to God for the sins of man. He would not have experienced human frailties and become sympathetic with man's battle against sin and temptation. He drank the cup of humanity fully and overcame all temptations and defeated the arch tempter.

Some may have not recognized anything unique about Him. As a boy He obviously was a normal boy. As a young man he early gave evidence of some difference in His declaration to His earthly parents, "Why is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" (Luke 2:49). This was not an insolent reply to His parents and it had nothing to do with carpentry. His Father's business involved things pertaining to the temple, the law, and redemption. They found Him engaged in conversation with the Jewish teachers in the temple who were amazed at His understanding and answers.

Jesus was different than other man and yet like other men. And much more, He makes a difference in the lives of all men. The difference Christ can make in all men is the difference between right and wrong, righteous and unrighteous, and ultimately between eternal bliss in heaven or eternal misery in the infernal regions of eternal punishment. He also makes the difference in the world for with all the efforts that have been made to nullify His influence, He is still the man who never sinned. He is the unique and only Son of Almighty God who beckons all to come to Him for rest and peace.

To become like Him He insists that all believe on Him as God's only Son and then through repentance to obey Him fully. Only when we are willing to submit to His will are we then on the right road to becoming like Him. The closing question is simple. Do you, dear reader, believe in Him as the unique Son of God? Are you tired of the worn out path of sin? Will you turn to Him today? Will you obey Him from the heart. One of the last things He ever commanded was "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but He who does not believe will be lost" (Mark 16:16). That comes from Him who died for us. Will you accept it today?

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