Uniqueness of Christ contd.

Jesus is the only man who has ever chosen to be born and He is one of the few who has chosen to die. He said that the entire reason for his coming was to die for us. He came ‘to give his life as a ransom for many’ (Mark 10:45).

From the Roman historians we know that crucifixion was one of the cruellest forms of execution. Cicero described it as ‘the most cruel and hideous of tortures’. Jesus would have been flogged by professionals who were trained to kill through scourging, with a whip of several strands of leather, weighted with pieces of metal and bones. According to Eusebius, a third-century historian, ‘The sufferer’s veins were laid bare, and the very muscles, sinews and bowels of the victim were opened to exposure.’ Then over 600 soldiers, for over eight hours tortured Him and played with Him. Imagine 600 people spitting on you. Then they forced a crown of thorns on Jesus’ head forcing the thorns to go down in His temple swelling His face beyond recognition. They dipped a purple robe in salted water and put it on Jesus’ exposed and mutilated body mocking as He is the king and then ripping it off. And during all the scourging and torture, Jesus did not utter single word of protest. In one command of His, angels would have come and destroyed all the soldiers, but He chose to remain silent.

Jesus was then thrown in a cold cell for the night and the next morning forced to carry a six-foot cross beam until He collapsed. When he reached the site of execution, six-inch nails were hammered through His wrists and feet as He was nailed to the cross rupturing all the veins of His body. He experienced every possible disease simultaneously. He was left to hang for hours in excruciating pain.

Yet, the New Testament makes it clear that there was something worse for Jesus than the physical and emotional pain; this was the spiritual anguish of being separated from God as He carried all our sins.

Jesus said He died ‘for’ us. The word ‘for’ means ‘instead of’. He did it because He loved us and did not want us to have to pay the penalty for all the things that we had done wrong. On the cross He was effectively saying, ‘I will take all those things on myself.’ He did it for me and He did it for you.

If you or I had been the only person in the world He would have done it for us. Apostle Paul wrote, ‘the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me’ (Galatians 2:20). It was out of love for us that He gave His life as a ransom.

The word ‘ransom’ comes from the slave market. A kind person might buy a slave to set him free – but first the ransom price had to be paid. Jesus paid, by his blood on the cross, the ransom price to set us free.

Free from :

You and I were created to live in a relationship with God. Until we find that relationship there will always be something missing in our lives.

People try to fill this emptiness in various ways. Some try to close the gap with money, but that does not satisfy. Aristotle Onassis, who was one of the richest men in the world, said at the end of his life: ‘Millions do not always add up to what a man needs out of life.’

Others try drugs or excess alcohol or sexual promiscuity. These things provide instant gratification but they invariably leave a feeling of hollowness afterwards. Still others try hard work, music, sport or seek success. There may not be anything wrong with these in themselves but they do not satisfy that hunger deep inside every human being.

Even the closest human relationships, wonderful though they are, do not in themselves satisfy this emptiness deep inside. Nothing will fill this gap except the relationship with God for which we were made.

There is a God shaped void in each of us, which only God can fill.

According to the New Testament, the reason for this emptiness is that men and women have turned their backs on God. Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life’ (John 6:35). He is the only one who can satisfy our deepest hunger because He is the one who makes it possible for our relationship with God to be restored.

God offers us in Christ Jesus forgiveness, freedom and his Spirit to live within us. All this is a gift from God. When someone offers us a present we have a choice. We can either accept it, open it and enjoy it. Or else we can say, ‘No thank you.’ Sadly, many people make excuses for not accepting the gift that God offers.

Here are some of the excuses:

a) ‘I have no need of God’
When people say this they usually mean that they are quite happy without God. What they fail to realise is that our greatest need is not ‘happiness’ but ‘love’, ‘joy’, ‘peace’,‘forgiveness’. It takes a very proud person to say that they have no need of forgiveness.

We all need forgiveness. Without it we are in serious trouble. For God is not only our loving Father; He is also a righteous judge.

Either we accept what Jesus has done for us on the cross, or else one day we will pay the just penalty ourselves for the things we have done wrong.

b) ‘There is too much to give up’
Sometimes, God puts his finger on something in our lives, which we know is wrong, and which we would have to give up if we want to enjoy this relationship with God through Jesus.

But we need to remember:
• God loves us. He asks us only to give up things that do us harm. If my children were playing with fire I would tell them to stop, not because I want to ruin their fun but because I do not want them to get hurt.

• What we give up is nothing compared to what we receive. The cost of not becoming a Christian is far greater than the cost of becoming a Christian.

• What we give up is nothing compared to what Jesus gave up when He died on the cross for us.

c) ‘There must be a trap’
Understandably, people often find it hard to accept that there is anything free in this life. They think it all sounds too easy and that there must be some hidden trap. However, what they fail to realise is that although it is free for us, it was not free for Jesus. He paid for it with His own blood. It is easy for us but it was not easy for Him.

d) ‘I’m not good enough’
None of us are. Nor can we ever make ourselves good enough for God. But that is why Jesus came. He made it possible for God to accept us just as we are, whatever we have done and however much of a mess we have made of our lives.

e) ‘I could never keep it up’
We are right to think that we could never keep it up. We cannot by ourselves, but the Spirit of God, who comes to live within us, gives us the power and the strength to keep going as Christians.

f) ‘I’ll do it later’
This is perhaps the most common excuse. Sometimes people say, ‘I know it’s true but I’m not ready.’ They put it off. The longer we put it off the harder it becomes and the more we miss out. We never know whether we will get another opportunity.

“Thank you God for loving me so much that you gave your only begotten Son to die for my sins. I repent of my sins. Lord Jesus, I accept You as my Saviour and believe that You died and rose again. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of the resurrected life. The Holy Spirit, I ask You to come into my heart right now and make it your dwelling place. Please take control of my life and make me a new person in You. I receive this free gift of eternal life. Thank You Lord Jesus. Amen.”

If you have truly meant what you have just said, your sins are forgiven and God, Who is love, has come to dwell in you. From now on, you should talk to God in prayer, read the Bible and God will reveal these truths to you. Allow God to reveal His great love for you and show you His plan and purpose for your life. Join a Bible-based Church so that you grow spiritually. Connect with us by clicking on the button below and we will help you.

Remember that even if no one else loves you, God loves you. You can have abundant life even if you have made serious mistakes in the past.