ONE OF A KIND

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:15 (NIV)

                I think we have a love/hate relationship with anything or anyone who is one-of-a-kind. On the one hand there is a desire by many people and products to stand out from the crowd. They want to be unique and not fit into any prescribed role. Those who do achieve this kind of status are applauded at first, but soon they become a target. There seems to be a propensity today toward attacking and cutting down anyone who stands out from the norm. If someone is too unique, then there most be something wrong with them. Or, if they are too unique, they make others feel inadequate, so we need to cut the one-of-a-kind down to size.

                I have been reading William Craig’s book, “A Reasonable Faith.” The (long) chapter I have been reading recently addresses the quest to find the historical Jesus. Ever since the Enlightenment, there have been those who want to cut Jesus down to size.  They claim that the Jesus of the Bible is too good to be true, too unique, too one-of-a-kind. They claim that the Jesus of the Bible is a different person than the Jesus of history. So, their quest has been to strip away all of the mythology that has surrounded Jesus and to discover the true, historical Jesus. In essence, they want a Jesus who is normal, who is just like everyone else. For some reason, they just cannot accept that Jesus is the ultimate one-of-a-kind.

                When we look at the Bible as a whole from a historical perspective, we can see that it stands up to the test of historicity. Scholars have been debating the accuracy and the historicity of the Bible for centuries. Today, more than any other time, we have access to ancient evidence that again and again validates the accuracy and historicity of the Bible. The shear number of manuscripts that date within 100 years of the originals far outstrips every other ancient manuscript. In addition, archeological discoveries have affirmed time and again the accuracy of what is recorded in the Bible.

                With this evidence in hand, we can take a better look at what the Bible has to say about Jesus. It is obvious that those who recorded the life and teachings of Jesus intended to leave an accurate, historical account. We should not be surprised that this history is intertwined with theology. Jesus’ entire ministry was theological. Jesus saw himself as the fulfillment of all of God’s promises to His covenant people. His followers came to realize the same thing. Although there were many others who claimed to be the promised Messiah, only Jesus actually fulfilled that role.

                In Deuteronomy 18:15, Moses predicted that God would raise up a new prophet like Moses to lead the people. Throughout their history, the people of Israel looked for and longed for that prophet. Many arose who showed promise, yet all of them failed in the end, that is until Jesus. The prophet Isaiah described who this Messiah would be in detail. He would be both a conquering king and a suffering servant.

                The people of Jesus’ day did not believe that he was the Messiah because he did not fit their idea of a political conqueror who would free them from their bandage to Rome. At first, as Jesus healed the sick and cast out demons, the crowds were ready to follow him. But when he began to teach about the Kingdom of God and refused to be a political leader, most turned away from him.

                After Jesus’ death on a cross, his burial, and his resurrection, the eyes of his faithful followers were opened by the Holy Spirit. They realized that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah. He had fulfilled all that God had said about the Messiah. So, they began to proclaim the reality that Jesus was and is the one-of-a-kind Savior of the world.

                Jesus himself declared his uniqueness, which is one reason he was condemned. In John 10:30 Jesus made the bold statement that he and the Father were one. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he declared to Martha that "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26 (NIV) When Jesus was preparing his disciples for his departure, he made an even bolder claim. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIV)

                At the very beginning of John’s gospel, he set the stage for the uniqueness of Jesus. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
John 1:1-3 (NIV) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 (NIV)

                The Apostle Peter boldly stood up before the Sanhedrin, the very group that had crucified Jesus, and declared that Jesus is the only source of salvation. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NIV)         

                The Apostle Paul, a man steeped in Jewish theology and history, boldly declared that Jesus is the unique, one-of-a-kind Messiah. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17 (NIV)

                The writer of Hebrews also boldly proclaimed the uniqueness. Of Jesus. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Hebrews 1:3-4 (NIV)

                The uniqueness of Jesus has withstood the test of time. Still today, many people want to cut Jesus down to size, to make him nothing more than a good moral teacher or some misguided religious fanatic. But Jesus continues to rise above the fray. He truly stands unique. There is no other religious leader like him. There is no one who has claimed what he claimed and verified it by his life and actions. There is no one who even comes close to the influence Jesus has had on human history. Jesus is truly the ultimate one-of-a-kind.

  

WE ARE NOT ALONE

 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

                A quick search on the internet reveals that there are many people who believe that we are not alone in the universe. A National Geographic poll reported that 36% of Americans, about 80 million people, believe UFOs exist. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that approximately 65% of Americans concur that extraterrestrials exist. Another poll found that almost two-thirds of Americans believe that there is alien life beyond earth.

                Although many people refuse to believe in God or in a spiritual dimension that is parallel to our physical dimension, they readily embrace the idea of life in the universe beyond earth. Ironically, the most common concept of this “alien” life is that they are more advanced and more intelligent than we are, and that they are probably a threat to humanity.

                The Bible clearly states that indeed we are not alone in the universe. There is a spiritual realm that co-exists with our physical realm. It is inhabited by spiritual beings, some of whom are servants of God and some of whom are in rebellion against God. For centuries, the reality of these beings was accepted by the majority of people. Today, in our sophisticated, scientific world, the majority of people have rejected the idea of spiritual beings. Yet, they are willing to embrace the existence of beings from another planet.

                The way the Bible depicts these spiritual beings, in many ways, parallels the way many people think of aliens. These spiritual beings are more powerful than we are, and in some ways have more knowledge. Some of these spiritual beings are a direct threat to humanity. They have the ability to invade a person’s mind and body and cause them to act in destructive ways toward themselves and others. The story of the demon-possessed man in Luke 8 is a prime example. In other cases, these spiritual beings cause sickness to invade a person. Luke 9:37-45 records the experience of a boy who had a demon that caused him to convulse and often cast him into the fire.

                On the other hand, the Bible also talks about spiritual beings who are God’s messengers to specific people. These messengers are there to assist and sometime protect individuals. We see examples of this in the story of Abraham, Jacob, Joshua, Daniel, Elijah, Mary, Joseph, Peter, and Jesus. Jesus specifically mentions the work of angels with regard to children. “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:10 (NIV) Hebrews talks about angels assiting people in the course of their life’s journey. Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14 (NIV)

                It is clear from the Bible that we are not alone in the universe. There is a spiritual realm that exists in tandem with our physical world. These spiritual beings, from time to time, reveal themselves to humans in a physical form. This could be as a messenger from God or as an evil spirit. It would not be surprising if the UFOS that people are obsessed with are not evil spirits manifesting themselves in a tangible form to lead people away from belief in God.

                There is no doubt that the spiritual realm interacts with our physical realm. Although many people do not want to acknowledge the spiritual realm, none the less, we can see the negative influence of rebellious spirits in the crime, violence, greed, and arrogance of our world. Satan cannot directly attack God, but he can attack those who God loves the most, humanity. He is a master of disguise and so he shields people from seeing the truth that lies just behind the curtain.

                The good news is that Jesus has already defeated the rebellious spirits in the heavenly realms.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)

                Although these rebellious spirits continue to fight against Him, their fate is sealed. There is a day coming when Jesus’ rule will become a tangible reality for all of creation. We are not alone in the universe. There is a spiritual realm all around us that one day will become one with us as we stand in awe before the throne of God.

Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above.

Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.

 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.

 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.

He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away.

Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the LORD.
Psalm 148:1-14 (NIV)