Who does the Bible say Jesus is?
The second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45);
Advocate (1 John 2:1);
the ancient of days (Daniel 7:22);
Apostle (Hebrews 3:1);
Author and Finisher of the faith (Hebrews 12:2);
Beginning of the creation of God (Revelation 3:14);
Only begotten of the Father (John 1:14);
Beginning and End (Revelation 1:8);
Shepherd and Bishop (1 Peter 2:25);
Bread of Life (John 6:48-51);
Bridegroom (Matthew 9:15);
Bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16);
Brightness of the Father's glory (Hebrews 1:3);
Brother (Hebrews 2:11);
Captain (Revelation 2:10);
The Chosen (Matthew 12:18);
Christ (Matthew 1:16);
Consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25);
Corner Stone (Ephesians 2:20);
Counselor (Isaiah 9:6);
Day Star (2 Peter 1:19);
Deliverer (Romans 11:26);
Desire of all nations (Haggai 2:7);
Door of the sheep (John 10:7);
Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23);
Friend (John 11:1-44);
Eternal Life (1 John 5:20);
Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6);
Express image of the Father (Hebrews 1:3);
Faithful Witness (Revelation 1:5);
First fruits from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:23);
Fountain (Zechariah 13:1);
Governor (Matthew 2:6);
Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18);
High Priest (Hebrews 3:1);
Holy One of God (Mark 1:24);
Heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2);
Judge (Acts 17:31);
King (Acts 2:34-36; Revelation 19:11-16);
Light of the world (John 9:5);
Life (John 14:6);
Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:1-5);
Master (Matthew 8:19);
Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5);
Messiah (Daniel 9:25);
Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7);
Potentate (1 Timothy 6:15);
Prince of life (Acts 3:15);
Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6);
Prophet (Luke 13:33; John 7:40);
Propitiation (1 John 2:2);
Power of God (1 Corinthians 1:24);
Physician (Matthew 9:12);
Ransom (1 Timothy 2:6);
Refiner and Purifier (Malachi 1:13);
Sacrifice (Ephesians 5:2);
Salvation (Luke 2:25-30);
Son of God (Matthew 4:3);
Son of Man (Matthew 8:20);
Son of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2);
Surety (Hebrews 7:22);
Teacher (John 3:2);
Testator (Hebrews 9:14-17);
Truth (John 14:6);
The Way (John 14:6);
Wedding Garment (Matthew 22:12);
Wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24);
Wonderful (Isaiah 9:6);
Word of God (Revelation 19:10-13).
onsdag 22 september 2010
Was Jesus Christ Mean?
Was Jesus mean? The answer, obviously, is no. I think the question is meant to highlight a deeper issue. Why are some of the followers of Jesus so mean if he wasn't? I don't know that I can adequately answer that question without going back to the question of Jesus himself.
Jesus was not mean, but he could be very, very tough. He sometimes used very strong language when speaking to people he regarded as hypocrites. In a withering excoriation of religious hypocrisy in Matthew 23, he compared the scribes and Pharisees to whitewashed tombs, which is a worse insult than it sounds because the religious leaders prided themselves on their outward righteousness. He could be tough on his own followers also. In Mark 8:14-21 he tells his disciples that they are spiritual blind and have hard hearts. When he appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, he calls them "foolish ones" and "slow of heart to believe" (Luke 24:25). He told certain Jewish leaders in John 8:44, "You are of your father the devil." The notion that our Lord was always "gentle Jesus, meek and mild," as if he spent his days saying nice things to make people feel better is only possible if you never read the gospels.
He was gentle and meek and mild and kind. But that's not the whole story.
He also demanded that his followers commit themselves to him wholeheartedly.
He had no patience for hypocrites who took advantage of others while ignoring their own sin.
Say what you want about Jesus, but don't forget that he took a whip and overturned the tables of the moneychangers, driving them out of temple precincts because they had made a house of prayer into a den of robbers.
Jesus could be very, very tough.
But was he mean? The answer may rest in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps some of the Pharisees and those moneychangers whose tables he overturned thought he was mean. After all, it was precisely because of his righteousness that they plotted to put him to death. His zeal for God aroused envy that turned to murderous hatred.
Article Page Break Here
But was he mean? A quick check of the dictionary gives us these definitions and synonyms:
offensive . . . selfish . . . nasty . . . malicious . . . small-minded . . . contemptible . . . petty . . . cruel . . . vindictive.
None of those words applies to Jesus. Isaiah 42 speaks of God’s servant who will come to establish justice in the land. It is a prophecy of the coming of Christ to the earth. The prophet says of the Servant of the Lord that "He will not shout or raise his voice in public"(v. 2 NLT). That seems like a good standard for evaluating our actions. Mean people use threats to get their way. They shout because they are angry and fearful of losing control. They raise their voice when they would be better served by remaining calm. Mean people use ridicule and biting sarcasm to put others down. They are contentious and unkind and they mistreat others and don’t think anyone of it.
Was Jesus mean? No, but he could be very, very tough. I admit there is a fine line here, but I also say that Jesus never came close to crossing that line. He was tough when he needed to be tough and tender when he needed to be tender. He knew how to treat each person exactly as they deserved to be treated. That includes blind beggars, sincere questioners, little children and proud Pharisees. Everyone got what they needed from Jesus. Some of them, like the rich young ruler, went away sorrowful, others marveled, the common people loved him, and many of the rulers hated him for his honesty.
So why are some of Jesus' followers so mean? I can't answer that question, but I know I need to look into the mirror and think about my own life. A mean Christian is not just a contradiction in terms; it is a terrible slander on our Lord. When Christians are mean, when we raise our voices in anger, when we use cruel words to hurt and not to heal, we give outsiders yet one more reason to disregard what we believe.
Jesus was not mean, but he could be very, very tough. He sometimes used very strong language when speaking to people he regarded as hypocrites. In a withering excoriation of religious hypocrisy in Matthew 23, he compared the scribes and Pharisees to whitewashed tombs, which is a worse insult than it sounds because the religious leaders prided themselves on their outward righteousness. He could be tough on his own followers also. In Mark 8:14-21 he tells his disciples that they are spiritual blind and have hard hearts. When he appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, he calls them "foolish ones" and "slow of heart to believe" (Luke 24:25). He told certain Jewish leaders in John 8:44, "You are of your father the devil." The notion that our Lord was always "gentle Jesus, meek and mild," as if he spent his days saying nice things to make people feel better is only possible if you never read the gospels.
He was gentle and meek and mild and kind. But that's not the whole story.
He also demanded that his followers commit themselves to him wholeheartedly.
He had no patience for hypocrites who took advantage of others while ignoring their own sin.
Say what you want about Jesus, but don't forget that he took a whip and overturned the tables of the moneychangers, driving them out of temple precincts because they had made a house of prayer into a den of robbers.
Jesus could be very, very tough.
But was he mean? The answer may rest in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps some of the Pharisees and those moneychangers whose tables he overturned thought he was mean. After all, it was precisely because of his righteousness that they plotted to put him to death. His zeal for God aroused envy that turned to murderous hatred.
Article Page Break Here
But was he mean? A quick check of the dictionary gives us these definitions and synonyms:
offensive . . . selfish . . . nasty . . . malicious . . . small-minded . . . contemptible . . . petty . . . cruel . . . vindictive.
None of those words applies to Jesus. Isaiah 42 speaks of God’s servant who will come to establish justice in the land. It is a prophecy of the coming of Christ to the earth. The prophet says of the Servant of the Lord that "He will not shout or raise his voice in public"(v. 2 NLT). That seems like a good standard for evaluating our actions. Mean people use threats to get their way. They shout because they are angry and fearful of losing control. They raise their voice when they would be better served by remaining calm. Mean people use ridicule and biting sarcasm to put others down. They are contentious and unkind and they mistreat others and don’t think anyone of it.
Was Jesus mean? No, but he could be very, very tough. I admit there is a fine line here, but I also say that Jesus never came close to crossing that line. He was tough when he needed to be tough and tender when he needed to be tender. He knew how to treat each person exactly as they deserved to be treated. That includes blind beggars, sincere questioners, little children and proud Pharisees. Everyone got what they needed from Jesus. Some of them, like the rich young ruler, went away sorrowful, others marveled, the common people loved him, and many of the rulers hated him for his honesty.
So why are some of Jesus' followers so mean? I can't answer that question, but I know I need to look into the mirror and think about my own life. A mean Christian is not just a contradiction in terms; it is a terrible slander on our Lord. When Christians are mean, when we raise our voices in anger, when we use cruel words to hurt and not to heal, we give outsiders yet one more reason to disregard what we believe.
Jesus the Artisan
We don't tend to think of Jesus in artistic terms, but I think we underestimate how artistic Jesus was.For starters, Jesus created the heavens and the earth. Looks pretty good on your artistic resume! But let me put it in incarnational terms. During his tenure on earth, Jesus spent most of his time as an artisan. He was in carpentry much longer than he was in ministry. Almost a 10:1 ratio. And I'm pretty sure he took pride in his carpentry craft. He sanded till the wood was perfectly smooth. He measured twice to make sure the angle was just right. He cared about color. He cared about contour. He cared about quality. And like any carpenter, I'm sure he wanted his work to bear his unique signature.I love the way Dorothy Sayers said it: "No crooked table legs or ill-fitted drawers ever, I dare say, came out of the carpenter's shop in Nazareth."I think we underestimate how much his artistry influenced his ministry. Read the gospels. Jesus was a wordsmith right? He chose words like a craftsman. Each word was measured like a carpenter measures wood. Any way you slice it, Jesus was an artisan first. And his ministry was shaped by his artistry. I guess I'm just trying to make a case for artistry as a dimension of spirituality. Pretty cool to think about our heavenly carpenter preparing a place for us right now!
The Wonderful Names of Jesus Christ
In the Old Testament the Hebrew culture placed a great emphasis on names. Character qualities were associated with different names; parents would give a child a name they hoped would prove prophetic—a quality that child would embody. In the same way, many Christian parents today choose the names of their children with the hope that these names will encourage those children to develop certain godly qualities. Josiah, for example, means "God supports," and David means "beloved one."
If you look through the Bible, you will find many different names used for Jesus Christ. My family has found that focusing on the names of Christ during the Christmas season can provide many opportunities for you and your children to learn there is so much more than just the sweet Christmas ceremony to celebrate.
Nothing is more precious than seeing how we honor His name. As you learn the meaning behind the names of Christ, you learn more about Him and the difference He makes in our lives. To help you begin thinking about the different names of Christ I have selected four that are used in Adorenaments(TM)—a resource developed by FamilyLife that you can use for a Christmas celebration.
The Good Shepherd"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." —John 10:11 (New American Standard Bible)
God put His shepherd here on this earth to be our shepherd. You see Him in John 10 as the shepherd who is in charge of the sheepfold, and the sheep follow Him, and they have eternal life. Scripture says that God knows His sheep, which is exciting to me.
A shepherd's staff functions as both a prod to get sheep to move and a crook to pull them in line and protect them. Sheep are among the dumbest of all animals, and they will literally eat their way, not looking, and go right off the side of a mountain. They can be caught in a briar patch because of their wool. Their shepherd will go down and put that crook around their neck, and he'll lift them up and rescue them. In this same way you can celebrate at Christmas that Jesus always care for you, and He can always rescue you.
The True Vine"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing." —John 15:5 (NASB)
It is essential for a branch to remain connected to the vine; if you break off the branch it will wither and die. But if it stays connected, it will bear fruit. In the same way, Christ's life flows through us (the branches) and then manifests itself. I believe that if you are a true child of God there is going to be evidence of your salvation, evidence of the fact that you are connected to Jesus Christ. And that evidence is fruit.
An example of why it is important to stay connected to the vine is found in Judas. He did not abide in Jesus; his life never showed the fruit that would have been evidence that he was connected to the vine. The rest of the disciples remained connected, and their lives manifested the fruit of the Spirit.
The Light of the WorldAgain therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." —John 8:12 (King James Version)
John came to tell people that Jesus is the true light, and it is He who lights every man who comes to know Him. In Matthew 5:14-16 the believer is admonished not to hide his light under a bushel but instead to let people see his light so that the Father in heaven would be glorified.
You could teach your children about this by buying the kind of candle that relights itself. Light the candle, hold it up, and then blow it out. Tell your children that you've "succeeded in putting out the light"… and then let them watch as the candle sparks back up. You can use this to teach the principle that he who has the Son has life, that the life is the light of the world, and that we're going to live forever.
The Bright Morning Star"I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am … the bright morning star." —Revelation 22:16 (NASB)
Here Jesus is depicted as another kind of light. In this verse I catch a glimpse of eternity as I think about Him coming again and shining forever. I think that we don't realize that every human being is eternal. Everybody is going to live somewhere forever, either with the Bright Morning Star or in the lake of fire that is eternal darkness.
I think sometimes in the midst of the Christmas season, we can forget that we are dealing with eternal issues. It is the holiday season that puts us back in touch with family members who are not saved, helps us see where we need to realign our lives and reconnect to Jesus in a deeper way, and reminds us that the giving we express so fully now could be more than just an annual event.
Focusing on the names of Jesus Christ is a great way to present the gospel in an unthreatening and non-offensive way and still present the truth about who Christ is. It also can serve as a prod to those who want to walk more closely with Him but for whatever reason aren't doing so
If you look through the Bible, you will find many different names used for Jesus Christ. My family has found that focusing on the names of Christ during the Christmas season can provide many opportunities for you and your children to learn there is so much more than just the sweet Christmas ceremony to celebrate.
Nothing is more precious than seeing how we honor His name. As you learn the meaning behind the names of Christ, you learn more about Him and the difference He makes in our lives. To help you begin thinking about the different names of Christ I have selected four that are used in Adorenaments(TM)—a resource developed by FamilyLife that you can use for a Christmas celebration.
The Good Shepherd"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." —John 10:11 (New American Standard Bible)
God put His shepherd here on this earth to be our shepherd. You see Him in John 10 as the shepherd who is in charge of the sheepfold, and the sheep follow Him, and they have eternal life. Scripture says that God knows His sheep, which is exciting to me.
A shepherd's staff functions as both a prod to get sheep to move and a crook to pull them in line and protect them. Sheep are among the dumbest of all animals, and they will literally eat their way, not looking, and go right off the side of a mountain. They can be caught in a briar patch because of their wool. Their shepherd will go down and put that crook around their neck, and he'll lift them up and rescue them. In this same way you can celebrate at Christmas that Jesus always care for you, and He can always rescue you.
The True Vine"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing." —John 15:5 (NASB)
It is essential for a branch to remain connected to the vine; if you break off the branch it will wither and die. But if it stays connected, it will bear fruit. In the same way, Christ's life flows through us (the branches) and then manifests itself. I believe that if you are a true child of God there is going to be evidence of your salvation, evidence of the fact that you are connected to Jesus Christ. And that evidence is fruit.
An example of why it is important to stay connected to the vine is found in Judas. He did not abide in Jesus; his life never showed the fruit that would have been evidence that he was connected to the vine. The rest of the disciples remained connected, and their lives manifested the fruit of the Spirit.
The Light of the WorldAgain therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." —John 8:12 (King James Version)
John came to tell people that Jesus is the true light, and it is He who lights every man who comes to know Him. In Matthew 5:14-16 the believer is admonished not to hide his light under a bushel but instead to let people see his light so that the Father in heaven would be glorified.
You could teach your children about this by buying the kind of candle that relights itself. Light the candle, hold it up, and then blow it out. Tell your children that you've "succeeded in putting out the light"… and then let them watch as the candle sparks back up. You can use this to teach the principle that he who has the Son has life, that the life is the light of the world, and that we're going to live forever.
The Bright Morning Star"I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am … the bright morning star." —Revelation 22:16 (NASB)
Here Jesus is depicted as another kind of light. In this verse I catch a glimpse of eternity as I think about Him coming again and shining forever. I think that we don't realize that every human being is eternal. Everybody is going to live somewhere forever, either with the Bright Morning Star or in the lake of fire that is eternal darkness.
I think sometimes in the midst of the Christmas season, we can forget that we are dealing with eternal issues. It is the holiday season that puts us back in touch with family members who are not saved, helps us see where we need to realign our lives and reconnect to Jesus in a deeper way, and reminds us that the giving we express so fully now could be more than just an annual event.
Focusing on the names of Jesus Christ is a great way to present the gospel in an unthreatening and non-offensive way and still present the truth about who Christ is. It also can serve as a prod to those who want to walk more closely with Him but for whatever reason aren't doing so
Was Jesus Funny?
Yesterday I asked folks to send me in whatever ideas they might like to have me blurg about. One especially interesting response that I got read, “I have always wondered if Jesus ever told a joke, or was humorous at times. What do you think?” Well, I’m no theologian, but if I had to guess whether or not Jesus was ever out-and-out funny, I would guess that he was. He was, we are told, fully human; people are funny; it seems to me a reasonable guess that every once in a while Jesus could be quite the crack-up. Especially given that his whole ministry involved communicating with people—which, of course, almost necessarily entails at least some humor. That Jesus was sometimes funny seems like a simple enough call.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned about Christians and Christianity, it’s that when it comes to matters of Jesus and Bible, things are never as simple as they might seem. Plus, as I say, I’m hardly a Leading Bible Scholar. What do I really know about it? I don’t speak ancient Greek or Hebrew. And I sure don’t speak Biblical Aramaic; I found it astounding that Mel Gibson was able to locate so many actors who do. I don’t know if it’s how he did it, but I’m guessing that there are a lot of great, very old community theaters in … Aramaia.
Anyway, I know a lot of people aren’t comfortable with the idea that Jesus was ever funny. That makes sense, too. Maybe the proclivity for humor was a human characteristic that, for some reason, the Lord simply chose not to adopt for himself.
Of course, the whole “plank in your eye” metaphor does seem pretty funny.
I think the best thing to do, after we’ve died and come directly into his presence, is to wait, and see whether or not Jesus cracks a joke first.
Frankly, I hope he does. Because if he doesn’t, chances are that, before too very long, I will. And when I do, I want him to laugh.
Can you imagine, cracking a joke to Jesus, and him going, “What? What are you talking about? I don’t get it.”?
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned about Christians and Christianity, it’s that when it comes to matters of Jesus and Bible, things are never as simple as they might seem. Plus, as I say, I’m hardly a Leading Bible Scholar. What do I really know about it? I don’t speak ancient Greek or Hebrew. And I sure don’t speak Biblical Aramaic; I found it astounding that Mel Gibson was able to locate so many actors who do. I don’t know if it’s how he did it, but I’m guessing that there are a lot of great, very old community theaters in … Aramaia.
Anyway, I know a lot of people aren’t comfortable with the idea that Jesus was ever funny. That makes sense, too. Maybe the proclivity for humor was a human characteristic that, for some reason, the Lord simply chose not to adopt for himself.
Of course, the whole “plank in your eye” metaphor does seem pretty funny.
I think the best thing to do, after we’ve died and come directly into his presence, is to wait, and see whether or not Jesus cracks a joke first.
Frankly, I hope he does. Because if he doesn’t, chances are that, before too very long, I will. And when I do, I want him to laugh.
Can you imagine, cracking a joke to Jesus, and him going, “What? What are you talking about? I don’t get it.”?
Meditate on the Beauty of Jesus
For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. —Philippians 3:3, emphasis added
To worship is to change. Because heaven is the worship center of the universe, to get ready to appear before Christ’s throne you need to learn to worship Jesus as He deserves. For worship and praise are our duty and purpose of existence. The Father therefore seeks that we ascribe to Christ the honor, praise, glory, and majesty of which He is worthy—His true “worthship.” Just as worship begins in holy expectancy, true worship ends in holy obedience. If worship does not propel us into greater obedience, it has not been worship. To stand before the Holy One of eternity is to change.
Understanding the nature of worship leads to very practical applications in our lives. For example, resentments cannot be held with the same tenacity when we enter into Christ’s gracious light. As Jesus says, we need to leave our gift at the altar and go set the matter straight (Matthew 5:23-24). In worship an increased power steals its way into the heart sanctuary and an increased compassion grows in the soul.
Holy obedience saves worship from becoming an opiate, an escape from the pressing needs of modern life. Worship enables us to hear the call to serve clearly so that we respond, “Here am I! Send me” (see Isaiah 6:1-8).
Make a choice to live in hope: As you meditate on the beauty of Jesus—the splendor of His redeeming love shown through His perfect patience, holiness, redemption, justice, and wrath—you will find living hope that spills over into the worship that He longs for! In doing so, you can rest in His beauty that will fill your soul to overflowing and transform you by His power so that earth’s dark shadows flee as you steadily gaze on Jesus, the brightness of the Father’s glory!
I exhort you to meditate on the wonderful words of this old song, and then sing it worshipfully to your Lord!
Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting
Jesus, I am resting, resting In the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness Of Thy loving heart. Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, And Thy beauty fills my soul, For by Thy transforming power Thou hast made me whole.
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, I behold Thee as Thou art, And Thy love, so pure, so changeless, Satisfies my heart— Satisfies its deepest longings, Meets, supplies its every need, And surrounds me with its blessings: Thine is love indeed!
Ever lift Thy face upon me As I work and wait for Thee; Resting ‘neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus, Earth’s dark shadows flee. Brightness of my Father’s glory, Sunshine of my Father’s face, Keep me ever trusting, resting, Fill me with Thy grace.
To worship is to change. Because heaven is the worship center of the universe, to get ready to appear before Christ’s throne you need to learn to worship Jesus as He deserves. For worship and praise are our duty and purpose of existence. The Father therefore seeks that we ascribe to Christ the honor, praise, glory, and majesty of which He is worthy—His true “worthship.” Just as worship begins in holy expectancy, true worship ends in holy obedience. If worship does not propel us into greater obedience, it has not been worship. To stand before the Holy One of eternity is to change.
Understanding the nature of worship leads to very practical applications in our lives. For example, resentments cannot be held with the same tenacity when we enter into Christ’s gracious light. As Jesus says, we need to leave our gift at the altar and go set the matter straight (Matthew 5:23-24). In worship an increased power steals its way into the heart sanctuary and an increased compassion grows in the soul.
Holy obedience saves worship from becoming an opiate, an escape from the pressing needs of modern life. Worship enables us to hear the call to serve clearly so that we respond, “Here am I! Send me” (see Isaiah 6:1-8).
Make a choice to live in hope: As you meditate on the beauty of Jesus—the splendor of His redeeming love shown through His perfect patience, holiness, redemption, justice, and wrath—you will find living hope that spills over into the worship that He longs for! In doing so, you can rest in His beauty that will fill your soul to overflowing and transform you by His power so that earth’s dark shadows flee as you steadily gaze on Jesus, the brightness of the Father’s glory!
I exhort you to meditate on the wonderful words of this old song, and then sing it worshipfully to your Lord!
Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting
Jesus, I am resting, resting In the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness Of Thy loving heart. Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, And Thy beauty fills my soul, For by Thy transforming power Thou hast made me whole.
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, I behold Thee as Thou art, And Thy love, so pure, so changeless, Satisfies my heart— Satisfies its deepest longings, Meets, supplies its every need, And surrounds me with its blessings: Thine is love indeed!
Ever lift Thy face upon me As I work and wait for Thee; Resting ‘neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus, Earth’s dark shadows flee. Brightness of my Father’s glory, Sunshine of my Father’s face, Keep me ever trusting, resting, Fill me with Thy grace.
The Unparalleled Passion of Jesus Christ
If Christians were not so familiar with these things because of 2000 years of tradition and liturgy, they might feel how utterly unlikely it was that this death would be the basis of a world-transforming faith. How could it be that a convicted, condemned, executed pretender to the throne of Rome would unleash in the next three centuries a power to suffer and to love that shaped the empire?
The Christian answer is that the passion of Jesus Christ was absolutely unique, and his resurrection from the dead three days later was an act of God to vindicate what his death achieved. The uniqueness is not necessarily in the length or intensity of the physical pain. That was unspeakably terrible. But I would not want to minimize the horrors of others who died gruesomely. The uniqueness lies elsewhere.
Unparalleled DivinityThe passion of Jesus Christ was unique because he was one of a kind. When asked, "Are you the Christ [=Messiah], the Son of the Blessed [=God]?" Jesus said, "I am." It was an almost incredible claim. The Messiah was expected to be powerful and glorious. But here was Jesus about to be crucified, saying openly what he had pointed toward so often during his ministry: I am the Messiah, the king of Israel . He said it openly at the very moment when it was least likely to be credible. Then he adds words that explain how a crucified Christ can reign as the King of Israel: "You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62). In other words, he expects to reign at God's right hand and someday come back to earth in glory.
He was more than a mere human. Not less. He was, as the ancient Nicene Creed says, "very God of very God." Christ existed before creation. He is co-eternal with God the Father. He was not created. There was no point when he did not exist. Forever and ever in the past God has existed with one divine essence in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is the testimony of those who knew and were inspired by him to explain who he is.
For example, the apostle John referred to Christ as the "Word" and wrote:
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 was not any thing made that was made. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-3, 14)
Jesus himself said things that only make sense if he was both God and man. For example, he forgave sin: "My son, your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5). This sort of thing is what finally got him killed. The outraged response was understandable: "He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mark 2:7).
It's an understandable reaction. C. S. Lewis the British scholar who wrote timeless children's' books and superb defenses of Christianity, explains: "If somebody cheats me out of five pounds it is quite possible and reasonable for me to say, ‘Well, I forgive him, we will say no more about it.' What on earth would you say if somebody had done you out of five pounds and I said, ‘That is all right, I forgive him'?" [1] Sin is sin because it is against God. If Jesus was not a lunatic, then he forgave sins against God because he was God.
This is what his words and deeds pointed toward. Once he said, "I and the Father are one," which almost got him stoned on the spot (John 10:30-31). Another time he said, "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). The words "I am" not only signaled his existence before Abraham, who lived 2000 years earlier, but was also a reference to the name that God gave himself in the Old Testament. "God said to Moses, ‘ I Am Who I Am .' And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel , ‘ I Am has sent me to you'" (Exodus 3:14).
Jesus foretold his own betrayal as if he knew the future as well as the past, and then explained what this meant with another breathtaking claim: "I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am" (John 13:19). Jesus was "I am"—the God of Israel, the Lord of the universe in human form. This is why his passion is unparalleled. Only the death of the divine Son of God could achieve what God intended to do by this death.
Unparalleled InnocenceThe passion of Christ was unique also because he was totally innocent. Not just innocent of the crimes of blasphemy and sedition, but of all sin. He once asked his enemies, "Which one of you convicts me of sin?" (John 8:46). Whatever they thought, he knew that no charge would stick. His disciple, Peter, who knew his own sin so well, said that Jesus' death was the death "of a lamb without blemish or spot" (1 Peter 1:19). Jesus' refusal to fight back as he was unjustly condemned and killed, cemented the conviction for his followers that he was sinless.
Peter expressed it for the rest: "He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:22-23). The reason Jesus' death brought all Jewish animal sacrifices to an end is that he became the final sacrifice himself and "offered himself without blemish to God" (Hebrews 9:14). His death was unparalleled because he was sinless.
Unparalleled DesignChrist's passion was unparalleled in human history because it was planned and predestined by God for our salvation. Beneath all the controversy over who actually killed Jesus, the deepest truth is: It was God who planned it, and saw to it that it came to pass. As the terrifying events unfolded the night before he died, Jesus said, "All this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled" (Matthew 26:56). All the details, down to the fact that they rolled dice for his clothes (John 19:24), and pierced him with a spear, rather than breaking his legs (John 19:36)—all of it was planned by his Father and predicted in the Scriptures.
The early church summed it up like this in prayer: "Truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place " (Acts 4:27-28). Central to Christianity is the truth that God sent his Son to die. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Jesus death was unique because there is only one Son and only one divine plan for salvation.
Unparalleled Authority in DeathThe passion of Christ was unique also because Jesus not only submitted willingly to his Father's plan ("Not my will, but yours, be done" Luke 22:42); he also embraced it and pursued it with his own divine authority. One of the most stunning statements Jesus ever made was about his own death and resurrection: "I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father" (John 10:17-18). No one ever spoke about his own life and death this way. The overwhelming testimony of the New Testament is that the controversy about who killed Jesus is marginal. He chose to die. His Father ordained it. He embraced it. One ordered all things, the other obeyed. The authority was in God's hands. And it was in Jesus' hands. Because Jesus is God.
Unparalleled Meaning for the WorldFinally, the passion of Christ was unparalleled because it was accompanied by unique events full of meaning for the world. First, there were the statements of incomparable love and authority from Jesus on the cross. No crucified man, dying in agony, ever spoke like this. One of the thieves who was crucified with Jesus finally repented and said, astonishingly, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." What a moment to see a kingdom being established! Jesus did not correct him. Instead he said, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise " (Luke 23:43). This was the voice of one who decides where thieves spend eternity.
The thief was not the only one who received the mercy of Christ as he died. Jesus looked out over those who crucified him and said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). They could make him bleed and weep, but they could not make him hate.
And when the moment of his death was near, Jesus cried out, "It is finished," and bowed his head and gave up his spirit (John 19:30). By this he meant more than "my life is over." He meant, "I have fully accomplished the redeeming work my Father sent me to do." A lifetime of sinless obedience to God, followed by a horrific suffering and death—that was why he came. It was finished.
The meaning of what he accomplished was symbolized by a surprising event nearby in Jerusalem . In the holy place of the Jewish temple, where only the high priest could go and meet God once a year, the curtain split as Jesus died. "Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom" (Matthew 27:50-51). The meaning is this: When Jesus died—when his flesh was torn—God tore (from top to bottom) the curtain separating ordinary people from himself. The death of Jesus opened the way for the world into intimate, holy, personal, forgiven, joyful fellowship with God. No human mediator is needed any longer. Jesus split open the way for direct access to God. He has become the only necessary Mediator between us and God. The early church said it like this: "Since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh . . . let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:19-22).
Unparalleled VindicationThe work of redemption was finished. The payment for reconciliation between God and man was. Now it only remained for God to confirm the achievement by raising Jesus from the dead. This is the way Jesus had predicted and planned it. More than once he said, "We are going up to Jerusalem , and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise" (Luke 18:31-33).
It happened three days later (parts of days were reckoned as days: Friday, Saturday,and Sunday). Early Sunday morning he rose from the dead. For forty days he appeared numerous times to his disciples before his ascension to heaven. The physician Luke, who wrote the New Testament book by that name, said that "he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3).
The disciples were slow to believe that it had really happened. These were not gullible primitives. They were down-to-earth tradesmen. They knew people did not rise from the dead. At one point Jesus insisted on eating fish to prove to them that he was not a ghost.
"See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. (Luke 24:39-43)
This was not the resuscitation of a corpse. It was the resurrection of the God-Man, into an indestructible new life of kingly rule at God's right hand. The early church acclaimed him Lord of heaven and earth. They said, "After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus had finished the unparalleled work God gave him to do, and the resurrection was the proof that God was satisfied.
The Christian answer is that the passion of Jesus Christ was absolutely unique, and his resurrection from the dead three days later was an act of God to vindicate what his death achieved. The uniqueness is not necessarily in the length or intensity of the physical pain. That was unspeakably terrible. But I would not want to minimize the horrors of others who died gruesomely. The uniqueness lies elsewhere.
Unparalleled DivinityThe passion of Jesus Christ was unique because he was one of a kind. When asked, "Are you the Christ [=Messiah], the Son of the Blessed [=God]?" Jesus said, "I am." It was an almost incredible claim. The Messiah was expected to be powerful and glorious. But here was Jesus about to be crucified, saying openly what he had pointed toward so often during his ministry: I am the Messiah, the king of Israel . He said it openly at the very moment when it was least likely to be credible. Then he adds words that explain how a crucified Christ can reign as the King of Israel: "You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62). In other words, he expects to reign at God's right hand and someday come back to earth in glory.
He was more than a mere human. Not less. He was, as the ancient Nicene Creed says, "very God of very God." Christ existed before creation. He is co-eternal with God the Father. He was not created. There was no point when he did not exist. Forever and ever in the past God has existed with one divine essence in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is the testimony of those who knew and were inspired by him to explain who he is.
For example, the apostle John referred to Christ as the "Word" and wrote:
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 was not any thing made that was made. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-3, 14)
Jesus himself said things that only make sense if he was both God and man. For example, he forgave sin: "My son, your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5). This sort of thing is what finally got him killed. The outraged response was understandable: "He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mark 2:7).
It's an understandable reaction. C. S. Lewis the British scholar who wrote timeless children's' books and superb defenses of Christianity, explains: "If somebody cheats me out of five pounds it is quite possible and reasonable for me to say, ‘Well, I forgive him, we will say no more about it.' What on earth would you say if somebody had done you out of five pounds and I said, ‘That is all right, I forgive him'?" [1] Sin is sin because it is against God. If Jesus was not a lunatic, then he forgave sins against God because he was God.
This is what his words and deeds pointed toward. Once he said, "I and the Father are one," which almost got him stoned on the spot (John 10:30-31). Another time he said, "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). The words "I am" not only signaled his existence before Abraham, who lived 2000 years earlier, but was also a reference to the name that God gave himself in the Old Testament. "God said to Moses, ‘ I Am Who I Am .' And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel , ‘ I Am has sent me to you'" (Exodus 3:14).
Jesus foretold his own betrayal as if he knew the future as well as the past, and then explained what this meant with another breathtaking claim: "I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am" (John 13:19). Jesus was "I am"—the God of Israel, the Lord of the universe in human form. This is why his passion is unparalleled. Only the death of the divine Son of God could achieve what God intended to do by this death.
Unparalleled InnocenceThe passion of Christ was unique also because he was totally innocent. Not just innocent of the crimes of blasphemy and sedition, but of all sin. He once asked his enemies, "Which one of you convicts me of sin?" (John 8:46). Whatever they thought, he knew that no charge would stick. His disciple, Peter, who knew his own sin so well, said that Jesus' death was the death "of a lamb without blemish or spot" (1 Peter 1:19). Jesus' refusal to fight back as he was unjustly condemned and killed, cemented the conviction for his followers that he was sinless.
Peter expressed it for the rest: "He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:22-23). The reason Jesus' death brought all Jewish animal sacrifices to an end is that he became the final sacrifice himself and "offered himself without blemish to God" (Hebrews 9:14). His death was unparalleled because he was sinless.
Unparalleled DesignChrist's passion was unparalleled in human history because it was planned and predestined by God for our salvation. Beneath all the controversy over who actually killed Jesus, the deepest truth is: It was God who planned it, and saw to it that it came to pass. As the terrifying events unfolded the night before he died, Jesus said, "All this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled" (Matthew 26:56). All the details, down to the fact that they rolled dice for his clothes (John 19:24), and pierced him with a spear, rather than breaking his legs (John 19:36)—all of it was planned by his Father and predicted in the Scriptures.
The early church summed it up like this in prayer: "Truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place " (Acts 4:27-28). Central to Christianity is the truth that God sent his Son to die. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Jesus death was unique because there is only one Son and only one divine plan for salvation.
Unparalleled Authority in DeathThe passion of Christ was unique also because Jesus not only submitted willingly to his Father's plan ("Not my will, but yours, be done" Luke 22:42); he also embraced it and pursued it with his own divine authority. One of the most stunning statements Jesus ever made was about his own death and resurrection: "I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father" (John 10:17-18). No one ever spoke about his own life and death this way. The overwhelming testimony of the New Testament is that the controversy about who killed Jesus is marginal. He chose to die. His Father ordained it. He embraced it. One ordered all things, the other obeyed. The authority was in God's hands. And it was in Jesus' hands. Because Jesus is God.
Unparalleled Meaning for the WorldFinally, the passion of Christ was unparalleled because it was accompanied by unique events full of meaning for the world. First, there were the statements of incomparable love and authority from Jesus on the cross. No crucified man, dying in agony, ever spoke like this. One of the thieves who was crucified with Jesus finally repented and said, astonishingly, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." What a moment to see a kingdom being established! Jesus did not correct him. Instead he said, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise " (Luke 23:43). This was the voice of one who decides where thieves spend eternity.
The thief was not the only one who received the mercy of Christ as he died. Jesus looked out over those who crucified him and said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). They could make him bleed and weep, but they could not make him hate.
And when the moment of his death was near, Jesus cried out, "It is finished," and bowed his head and gave up his spirit (John 19:30). By this he meant more than "my life is over." He meant, "I have fully accomplished the redeeming work my Father sent me to do." A lifetime of sinless obedience to God, followed by a horrific suffering and death—that was why he came. It was finished.
The meaning of what he accomplished was symbolized by a surprising event nearby in Jerusalem . In the holy place of the Jewish temple, where only the high priest could go and meet God once a year, the curtain split as Jesus died. "Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom" (Matthew 27:50-51). The meaning is this: When Jesus died—when his flesh was torn—God tore (from top to bottom) the curtain separating ordinary people from himself. The death of Jesus opened the way for the world into intimate, holy, personal, forgiven, joyful fellowship with God. No human mediator is needed any longer. Jesus split open the way for direct access to God. He has become the only necessary Mediator between us and God. The early church said it like this: "Since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh . . . let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:19-22).
Unparalleled VindicationThe work of redemption was finished. The payment for reconciliation between God and man was. Now it only remained for God to confirm the achievement by raising Jesus from the dead. This is the way Jesus had predicted and planned it. More than once he said, "We are going up to Jerusalem , and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise" (Luke 18:31-33).
It happened three days later (parts of days were reckoned as days: Friday, Saturday,and Sunday). Early Sunday morning he rose from the dead. For forty days he appeared numerous times to his disciples before his ascension to heaven. The physician Luke, who wrote the New Testament book by that name, said that "he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3).
The disciples were slow to believe that it had really happened. These were not gullible primitives. They were down-to-earth tradesmen. They knew people did not rise from the dead. At one point Jesus insisted on eating fish to prove to them that he was not a ghost.
"See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. (Luke 24:39-43)
This was not the resuscitation of a corpse. It was the resurrection of the God-Man, into an indestructible new life of kingly rule at God's right hand. The early church acclaimed him Lord of heaven and earth. They said, "After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus had finished the unparalleled work God gave him to do, and the resurrection was the proof that God was satisfied.
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