The Uniqueness of Jesus

Scripture

Acts 4:11–12 “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

1 Timothy 2:4–5 “who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”

Apologetics

1 Peter 3:15 “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

Defense = Apologia

Jude 3 “I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”

Contend = Struggle for; wrestle

Intro

It’s an historical fact that Jesus lived

It’s an historical fact that Jesus was a Jew

It’s an historical fact that Jesus was crucified by the Romans

Most everyone agrees that Jesus was a good man

Most everyone agrees the character of Jesus should be emulated

Most everyone agrees that Jesus was super spiritual

It takes faith to believe Jesus is the Son of God

It takes faith to believe Jesus died for our sins

It takes faith to believe Jesus actually rose from the dead

Facts, opinions, and faith

Some things don’t require faith to believe, while others require us to take a leap

Who is Jesus?

Copycat?

Horus - Egypt - 3000 BC

Born on Dec. 25th

Born of a virgin

Star in the East

Adorned by 3 kings

Teacher at 12

Baptized/Ministry at 30

12 Disciples

Attis - Greece - 1200 BC

Born of a virgin

Born on Dec. 25th

Crucified

Dead for 3 days

Resurrected

Dionysus

Born of a virgin

Born on Dec. 25th

Performed miracles

“King of kings”

“Alpha and Omega”

Resurrected

Krishna - India - 900 BC

Born of a virgin

Star in the East

Performed miracles

Resurrected

Mithras - Persia - 1200 BC

Born of a virgin

Born on Dec. 25th

12 Disciples

Performed miracles

Dead for 3 days

Resurrected

The truth

Horus was from Osiris and Isis, some say he was crucified (which didn’t exist then), some say he never died and merged with the sun god to be reborn every day.

Attis’ mother was Nana (the daughter of the river Sangarius) after she ate an almond that sprouted from the blood of the demon Agditis, he died because he castrated himself, Zeus preserved his body so it wouldn’t decay or decompose.

Dionysus was born out of an affair with Zeus and a mortal Semele, Zeus revealed himself to Semele in all his glory which killed her, Zeus sewed Dionysus’ heart into his thigh until he was born, this is also the claim for his resurrection.

Krishna is said to be the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also the supreme god, his parents were Devaki and Vasudeva, he was killed while sleeping, after he returned to his transcendent abode.

Mithras emerged fully grown our of a rock, didn’t die but ascended to paradise on a chariot, which means that he never resurrected.

Why believe Jesus’ story and not these others

Why would people be so adamant to disprove Jesus?

It tells me there is something significant about Jesus

All religions have good things to say about Jesus

Only one religion speaks the truth of Jesus

Was Scripture an embellishment?

Ancient Creeds

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”

1 Corinthians was written between 53-55 AD

This creed was known before the letter was written

Jesus disciples believed the highest things about Jesus from the beginning

But who did Jesus say He was?

“Jesus Christ, Superstar, do you think you’re what they say you are?”

Mark 12:1–9 “And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others.”

Jesus claimed to be God many times throughout Scripture

What does this mean for us?

This is real

Jesus really is God incarnate, the Son of God

Jesus really was born of a virgin

Jesus really did die for your sins

Jesus really did rise again

Jesus really is at the right hand of the Father interceding for you

Jesus really did send us the Holy Spirit to dwell with us

Jesus really does love you

Jesus really does want to be with you

Jesus really did give everything for you after knowing everything about you

We really do have a calling to fulfill

And it really is important in our lives and the lives of others