The Uniqueness Of Jesus
Charles J. Aebi
“God so loved the world that he gave his unique Son, in order that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but may have eternal life,” John 3:16 reads in McCord’s translation. The lexicons generally agree that the word here translated unique(monogenes) means “the only one of its kind.” Whether your preference is for “unique” or for “only begotten” in this passage, you must agree that Jesus is unique in most ways. Consider what is said of Him:
He is the Son of God (Matt. 16:16). He is the King of Israel (John 1:49). He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last (Rev. 1:11). He is the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness (Rev. 3:14). He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5). He is the Bright and Morning Star (Rev. 22:16). He is the King of Kings; He is the Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16). He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14). He is the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4). He is the Light of the world (John 8:12). He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). He is the Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2). He is the Captain of our salvation (Heb. 2:10). He is the Author of eternal salvation (Heb. 5:9). He is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). He is our Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14). He is our High Priest of the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 7:21). He is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession (Heb. 3:1). He is the Word become flesh (John 1:14). He is the Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15). He is the only Mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5). He is the Prophet like Moses (Acts 3:22-23). He is God’s Servant to turn us away from our iniquities (Acts 3:26). He is God (Heb. 1:8). He is man (1 Tim. 2:5). He is the Son of man (Matt. 16:13,27,28). He is the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9). He is the Way; He is the Truth; He is the Life (John 14:6). He is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 1:4). He is all of this and more; yes, He is the only One of His kind–the only God-man, fully God and fully man.
From His birth (the only virgin birth ever) to His resurrection (the only One thus far to be raised never to die again) and ascension (the only One to ascend to rule at God’s right hand), Jesus was and is unique. Between His birth and His ascension Jesus was unique as the Teacher, as the greatest of miracle workers, and as the only sinless adult ever to live on the earth. As Teacher, Jesus emphasized the necessity of the new birth of water and the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom. He explained the new worship to the Samaritan woman – that God is Spirit and one must worship Him in spirit and in truth. In parables He compared the new kingdom to a hidden treasure, to servants using sums of money to gain more for their master, and to various other things in this life that would help one to understand the spiritual nature of His kingdom. Jesus taught by parables, by questions, by object lessons (washing the disciples’ feet), and in other ways teachers still use, but his teaching was unique: “... people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matt. 7:28-29). “No man ever spoke like this Man!” (John 7:46).
Miracles were performed by prophets like Elijah and Elisha, but Jesus was unique as the greatest miracle worker of all time. He multiplied a few fish and a few loaves to feed thousands. He walked on the water and stilled the storm. He demonstrated that He was the Son of God with power (Rom. 1:4) by arising from the dead permanently. More amazing still, He used His power to benefit others, refusing to harm those who crucified Him, and refusing to start His ministry with a spectacular leap from the temple pinnacle. Our Lord was also unique in leaving Heaven for others, in becoming a human for others, in dying for others—in short, doing everything He did for others, including you and me. He was the epitome of unselfishness, which sets him apart as absolutely unique. –2660 Layman Road, Vincent OH 45784. cjandi@juno.com