Jesus Was Different
Jesus Was Different
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 West End church of Christ presents this program each week at
this time. Our purpose is to help you have a better understanding of
the Bible. We also hope you will come to understand and know us. We
offer nothing other than that which we find in your own Bible. At any
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of Parkside Drive and Old Morgantown Road, just across from Lampkin
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obligation. In it you will find a number of biblical themes discussed
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End Church of Christ, 1609 Parkside Drive, Bowling Green, Kentucky. Our
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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?
If you have a question about this, or anything else you hear from
us, please let us know. And if you want our paper, the Voice of West
End, write a note or card to West End Church of Christ, 1609 Parkside
Drive, Bowling Green, KY 42101 or call 842-7880. Thank you for being
with us today. Remember to set your dial right here next Sunday at 8
a.m. Till then, God bless each of you and good bye.
A Study of Jesus as a man, Spears, page 2
Radio Sermon No. 29, Page 3
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