Uniqueness of Jesus

Jesus Christ was unique in that He alone, of all who ever lived, was both fully God and fully man. He is the centrepiece of our civilisation. We call what happened before Him ‘BC’ and what happened after Him ‘AD’. Jesus was and is the Son of God. Orthodox Christians believe that Jesus is the unique Son of God in human flesh. However, some unbelievers, who may or may not believe Jesus existed, do not believe that Jesus was necessarily a wise or a particularly good man. Others, such as Muslims, think that Jesus was a prophet, along with other prophets. Hindus depict Christ as one among many great gurus. Liberal Christians and many others hold Christ as a good human being and a great moral example.

The truth is that Jesus Christ did exist and His life, death and resurrection as documented in New Testament in Bible are most authentic and verifiable through early manuscripts, non-biblical writings, historical evidences, etc. The New Testament record, especially the Gospels, is one of the most reliable documents from the ancient world. From these documents we learn that numerous facets of the uniqueness of Christ and His supernatural nature.

Supernatural prophesies, centuries ago, foretold about Jesus.

The Old Testament, which even the most ardent critic acknowledges was in existence centuries before Christ, predicted the where (Micah 5:2), the when (Daniel 9:26), and the how (Isaiah 7:14) of Christ’s entry into the world. He would be born of a woman (Genesis 3:15) from the line of Adam’s son Seth (Genesis 4:26), through Noah’s son Shem (Genesis 9:26–27), and Abraham (Genesis 12:3; 15:5). He would come through the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10) and would be the son of David (2 Samuel 7:12f.). The Old Testament predicted that Christ would die for our sins (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 12:10) and would rise from the dead (Psalms 2:7; 16:10).

All of these supernatural prophecies were uniquely fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This is not true of any great religious leader or person who has ever lived.

Christ was not only supernaturally anticipated; He was also miraculously conceived. While announcing His virgin conception, Matthew (1:22–23) points to the prophecy of Isaiah (7:14). Luke, a physician, records this miraculous inception of human life (Luke 1:26f.); Paul alludes to it in Galatians 4:4. Of all human conceptions, Jesus’ stands as unique and miraculous.

Christ’s character was unique in other ways. To a perfect degree He manifested the best of virtues. He also combined seemingly opposing traits.

In Exemplifying Virtues. Even Bertrand Russell, a famed atheist, who fancied he saw flaws in Christ’s character, confessed nonetheless that ‘What the world needs is love, Christian love, or compassion.’ Dostoevsky, himself a Christian, said, “I believe there is no one lovelier, deeper, more sympathetic and more perfect than Jesus. I say to myself, with jealous love, that not only is there no one else like him but there could never be anyone like him.”

Jesus’ willing submission to the ignominious suffering and death by crucifixion, while He maintained love and forgiveness toward those killing Him is proof of this virtue (Luke 23:34, 43). He alone lived perfectly what He taught in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). He did not retaliate against His enemies; instead, He forgave them. He rebuked His disciples for misusing the sword (Matthew 26:52), and miraculously reattached and healed the amputated ear of one of the mob who came to take him to His death (Luke 22:50).

Jesus was the perfect example of patience, kindness, and compassion. He had compassion on the multitudes (Matthew 9:36), to the point of weeping over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37). Even though He justly condemned (in no uncertain terms) the Pharisees who misled the innocent (Matthew 23), He did not hesitate to speak with Jewish leaders who showed interest (John 3).

In Combining Seemingly Opposite Traits. One of the unique things about Christ is the way He brought together in His person, characteristics that in anyone else would seem impossible. He was a perfect example of humility, to the extent of washing his disciples’ feet (John 15). Yet He made bold claims to deity, such as, ‘I and the Father are One’ (John 10:30) and ‘before Abraham was, I AM’ (John 8:58; cf. Exodus 3:14). The claim, ‘I am meek and lowly in heart’ (Matthew 11:29) sounds arrogant, but He backed his words among little children (Matthew 18). Yet He was so strong as to overturn the tables of those who merchandised God’s house, cracking a whip to chase away their animals (John 2). Jesus was known for the virtue of kindness, yet He was severe with hypocrites who misled the innocent (Matthew 23).

He condemned meaningless traditions and misinterpretations of the Old Testament (Matthew 5:21f., 15:3–5 ). Though the essence of what He taught finds its roots in the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17–18), the form and the manner in which He taught was unique. The Sermon on the Mount employs a fresh teaching method.

The vivid parables, such as the good Samaritan (Luke 10), the prodigal son (Luke 15), and the lost sheep (Luke 15:4f.), are masterpieces of communication. Parables stand at the heart of Jesus’ teaching style. By drawing on the lifestyles of the people to illustrate the truths He wished to convey, Jesus communicated truth and refuted error. Also, by speaking in parables He could avoid ‘casting pearls before swine.’ He could confound and confuse those who did not wish to believe, yet illuminate those who did desire to believe. While the use of allegories and parables themselves was not unique, the manner in which Jesus employed parables was. He brought the art of teaching eternal mystery in terms of everyday experience to a new height. The ‘laws of teaching’ identified by modern pedagogues (Shafer, Seven Laws), were practiced perfectly in Jesus’ teaching style.

The manner in which Jesus taught was unique. The Jewish intellectuals admitted, ‘No one ever spoke the way this man does’ (John 7:46). As He taught in parables, He was thronged by the multitudes (Matthew 13:34). As a young boy, He impressed even the rabbis in the temple. For ‘Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers’ (Luke 2:47). Later, He confounded those who attempted to trick Him so that ‘No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions’ (Matthew 22:46).

Jesus claimed to be the unique Son of God – on an equal footing with God. He assumed the authority to forgive sins. He said that one day He would judge the world and that what would matter then would be how we had responded to Him in this life.

C. S. Lewis pointed out that: ‘A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.’ He would either be insane or else he would be ‘the Devil of Hell’. ‘You must make your choice,’ he writes. Either Jesus was, and is, the Son of God or else he was insane or evil but, C. S. Lewis goes on, ‘let us not come up with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.’

Events surrounding Christ’s death were miraculous. This included the darkness from noon to 3 p.m. (Mark 15:33) and the earthquake that opened the tombs and rend the temple veil (Matthew 27:51-54). The manner in which He suffered the excruciating torture of crucifixion was miraculous. The attitude He maintained toward His mockers and executioners was miraculous, saying, ‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’ (Luke 23:34). The way in which He actually died was miraculous. As Jesus said, ‘I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord’ (John 10:18). At the very moment of His departure, He was not overcome by death. Rather, He voluntarily dismissed his spirit. ‘Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit’ (John 19:30).

The crowning miracle of Jesus’ earthly mission was the resurrection. It was not only predicted in the Old Testament (Psalms 2, 16), but Jesus himself predicted it from the very beginning of his ministry: He said, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’ … But the temple he had spoken of was his body’ (John 2:19, 21; Matthew 12:40–42; 17:9). Jesus demonstrated the reality of His resurrection in twelve appearances over forty days to more than 500 people.

Just like his entrance into this world, Jesus’ departure was also miraculous. After commissioning His disciples, ‘he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them’ (Acts 1:10). Contrary to the view of some, this was not a ‘parable’ but a literal bodily ascension into heaven from which He will return in the same literal body to reign in this world (Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7, 19–20). The great Christian creeds clearly emphasize the miraculous bodily ascension of Christ.

Some of Jesus’ enemies brought false accusations against Him, but the verdict of Pilate at His trial has been the verdict of history: ‘I find no basis for a charge against this man’ (Luke 23:4). A soldier at the cross agreed saying, ‘Surely this was a righteous man’ (Luke 23:47), and the thief on the cross next to Jesus said, ‘This man has done nothing wrong’ (Luke 23:41).

For a description of what those closest to Jesus thought of His character, Hebrews says that He was tempted as a man ‘yet without sinning’ (4:15). Jesus Himself once challenged His accusers, ‘Which of you convicts me of sin?’ (John 8:46), but no one was able to find Him guilty of anything. This being the case, the impeccable character of Christ gives a double testimony to the truth of His claim. Jesus’ sinlessness was unique.

Christ is absolutely unique among all who ever lived. He is unique in his supernatural nature, in His superlative character, and in His life and teaching. No other world teacher or a prophet or a founder of any religious system has claimed to be God. Even when the followers of some prophet deified their teacher, there is no proof given for that claim that can be compared to the fulfillment of prophecy, the sinless and miraculous life, and the resurrection. No other religious leader offered salvation by faith, apart from works, based on acting to take away the guilt for human sin. No religious or philosophical leader has displayed the love for people that Jesus did in dying for the sins of the world (John 15:13; Romans 5:6–8). Jesus is absolutely unique among all human beings who ever lived.

There is no other religious system in the world where there is a Cross and a Saviour. In fact, all other systems are either based on laws and penalty for sin. Christianity is the only religion where there is forgiveness.