Most people believe Jesus was a great spiritual leader. Muslims respect him as a prophet. Hindus would accept him as one of their avatars. Buddhists could call him an enlightened one. Sikhs might see him as a guru and some Jews would honor him as a rabbi. Others would call him a philosopher or miracle-worker or revolutionary. All the above would also agree on one thing — Jesus was only a man, a fellow human being, full stop.
But was he more than that? If he was, surely there would be some evidence to point to his uniqueness among the spiritual leaders of history.
Unique in his birth
The Christmas Gospels are Matthew and Luke. Matthew tells us that Mary “was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit” and the angel told Joseph that “what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (check out Matthew 1:18-21). The prophet Isaiah had predicted this seven centuries earlier when he wrote, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son.” (Isaiah 7:14) The Muslim Koran also affirms the virgin birth of Jesus.
Luke tells us that Mary questioned the angel saying, “How will this be since I am a virgin?” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (see Luke 1:26-38)
How many people do you know who were born of a virgin? Jesus was unique in his birth.
Unique in his life
The four biographical Gospels are full of examples of Jesus’ miraculous power. He healed the lame, cured the blind, cleansed the lepers, exorcised demons, walked on water, turned water into wine, calmed a storm, and multiplied food. The Koran also affirms his miracles.
These miracles caused people to listen to his teaching which focused on his identity. Matthew records that “When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.” (Matthew 22:33)
Jesus taught his divinity indirectly. He forgave sin (see Mark 2:5-7), he claimed he would judge the world someday (Matthew 25:31-32) and he received worship (John 20:28-29).
These are things only God does. And he taught his divinity directly. When asked point-blank, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus replied, “I am”. (Mark 14:61-64)
The powerful deeds and amazing declarations of Jesus during his lifetime were unique.
Unique in his death
Matthew records that during the last three hours of Jesus’ life when he hung on the cross, “darkness came over the land” and when he died “the earth shook”. (Matthew 27:50-54)
Even more amazing, He didn’t stay dead! He was resurrected. All four Gospels affirm that Jesus came back to life three days after his death and appeared multiple times to his followers (Matthew 28:1-6). He never died again after that but 40 days later “he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight”. (Acts 1:9)
This is how Jesus returned to heaven from whence he came.
So, there you have it. Jesus was unique in his birth, life, death and resurrection. With such evidence of his uniqueness, maybe (just maybe) we should take seriously what he had to say. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor.
