Jesus: Son of the Living God
Dr. John K. Mathew
In the days of his flesh, Christ constantly asserted his own superior greatness among men. No man dared make the same claim. Familiar as he was with great saints in God’s portrait gallery, he could say of himself, “Behold a greater is here”.
Herbert Lockyer writes, “He was greater than Abraham in the pre-eminence of his rank. The Jews boasted that Abraham was the head and founder of their race. Christ is the head of the church. He was greater than the temple in the magnificence of his glory. The temple was the centre and expression of worship. Now we gather in his Name whether it be in cabin or cathedral.
He was greater than Solomon in the excellence of his wisdom. Israel’s illustrious king was the richest and wisest of the kings, but both his wealth and wisdom were derived from Him who was made unto our wisdom.”
How great he was in his character altogether? He is the only one who said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. (Matt. 11:28–30). Was he really gentle? Yes, the parable of the workers in the vineyard, deals with his generosity and at the same time his concept of equality. He is the only one who paid attention to the poor widow who put two coins in the temple treasure. We all recognize and acknowledge people by race, place and face whereas Jesus’ only criterion to acknowledge people is ‘grace’. He appeared for the last, least and the lost.
In fact, what accounts for the unique status of Jesus Christ? Tim Lahaye, in his book ‘Why Believe in Jesus’? Says, it was not his parentage, for his mother was a simple Jewish woman and his father a humble village carpenter. It was not his material possessions for he had no money, not even a place, to lay his head’. He was tried before legal officials in a borrowed robe and buried in a borrowed tomb. It was not his education for there is no record that he attended school. Yet at age 12, He confronted the doctors of theology by teaching in the temple at Jerusalem. It was not because he had influential friends, for only fishermen, tax collectors, and other ordinary men and women followed him”.
One of the finest tributes to our Lord Jesus Christ was written by an unknown author. It reads, “He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. While he was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends deserted him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mocking of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had - His coat when he was dead. He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave. Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure for much of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever sailed, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man, upon this earth as powerfully as this ‘One Solitary Life’.
Who is the man and really what accounts for the unique status of Jesus Christ? The answer is simple. His uniqueness lies in the fact that, ‘Jesus truly was the divine Son of God, who came in human flesh, just as He claimed’ (Tim Lahaye).
