Jesus is unique. We who follow Him are convinced of that fact. This is why we follow Him. But of course, in many parts of the world especially the post Christian west, people shy away from this fact. If Jesus is unique, He must be uniquely important in connecting us to God. In fact He may be the only way to fully connect us with God!
The post Christian, post modern west is quick to reject this because pluralism, tolerance and suspicion of any absolute truths have been fully embraced. Think highly of Jesus if you will, but don't claim that He is unique and is the unique way to God.
Yet anyone who takes the Bible seriously has to see how unique Jesus is. He himself claimed this many times. For example:
"No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man." John 3:13
Jesus boldly declared to a Jewish religious leader that He was one of a kind; the only Man who had come from heaven. I was reminded of this today by the several references that can be translated "heavenly man" in the great "resurrection chapter."
Of course Jesus was unique. If indeed He was and is the only One who has ever come from heaven, then we would expect His teaching to be powerful and unique; we would not be shocked by His amazing control of nature or demons displayed in various miracles. This is what we would expect from a Heavenly Man.
Authors and movie makers are enamoured with creating fictional superheroes and super villains who can do the spectacular. The reality of Jesus is far better than the best of these fictional characters. We who follow Jesus understand and believe He really broke into human history, this Visitor from Heaven, 2000 years ago. The baby born in Bethlehem was indeed sent from heaven.
We worship the Man from Heaven. And we are promised that one day we will share eternity with Him.
The post Christian, post modern west is quick to reject this because pluralism, tolerance and suspicion of any absolute truths have been fully embraced. Think highly of Jesus if you will, but don't claim that He is unique and is the unique way to God.
Yet anyone who takes the Bible seriously has to see how unique Jesus is. He himself claimed this many times. For example:
"No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man." John 3:13
Jesus boldly declared to a Jewish religious leader that He was one of a kind; the only Man who had come from heaven. I was reminded of this today by the several references that can be translated "heavenly man" in the great "resurrection chapter."
"The first man (Adam) was of the dust of the earth; the second man (Jesus) is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. I Corinthians 15:47 - 49
Of course Jesus was unique. If indeed He was and is the only One who has ever come from heaven, then we would expect His teaching to be powerful and unique; we would not be shocked by His amazing control of nature or demons displayed in various miracles. This is what we would expect from a Heavenly Man.
Authors and movie makers are enamoured with creating fictional superheroes and super villains who can do the spectacular. The reality of Jesus is far better than the best of these fictional characters. We who follow Jesus understand and believe He really broke into human history, this Visitor from Heaven, 2000 years ago. The baby born in Bethlehem was indeed sent from heaven.
We worship the Man from Heaven. And we are promised that one day we will share eternity with Him.
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