0793. Distinctions Made Plain

Distinctions Made Plain

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (Joh_1:14).

We wish first of all to sum up much that has been said; then to add other thoughts concerning the distinction between Jesus Christ, and every other man who ever lived.

There are those who will concede that Jesus Christ was Divine, but in the next breath they claim Divinity for themselves. There are those who will acknowledge the Deity of our Lord, but at once they take Deity to themselves. No greater dishonor can be heaped upon our Lord than to deny the uniqueness of His Lordship. Either to draw Jesus Christ down to the plain of fallen man, or to lift fallen man up to the plain of Jesus Christ, is blasphemy against His matchless Person. He is the only One Who has ever been among men Who was very God of very God. Let us recapitulate the things wherein He stands unique and alone from all others:–

1. He was born of a woman, of a virgin–none other ever was.

2. He was made flesh and dwelt among us as the express image of God. "As the brightness of God's glory, as the express image of God's person"–none other so dwelt.

3. He was from above–all others were from beneath.

4. He was the Lord from Heaven–all others were of the earth, earthy.

5. He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh–all others are born with sinful flesh.

6. He said, "The prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in Me"–all others walk according to the prince of the power of the air.

7. He was inherently holy–all others are inherently unholy.

8. He was the impeccable One, He could not sin–all others are sinful.

When the Holy Spirit said, "Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful," He must have had our Lord Jesus in view, for of Him, and of Him alone, could the words truly be said (see Psa_1:1). The Spirit again speaks of Christ when He says: "Thou art fairer than the children of men" (Psa_45:2).

Our Lord Himself claimed superiority to man. He said, "A greater than Solomon is here." He said, "If any man come to Me and hate not his father and mother, * * he cannot be My disciple." Our Lord Jesus Christ claimed Divine attributes. He said:

"I am the Door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved."

"I am the Resurrection and the Life."

"I am the Light of the world."

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

"I am the Bread that came down from Heaven."

None of the above expressions could be said of any man. All of them demanded Deity.

Our Lord claimed Divine worship. On the night in which He was betrayed He took bread and said, "This is My body," "This is My Blood." This is inclusive of real worship.

Christ commended His disciples for calling Him Lord. He said: "Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am" (Joh_12:13).

Christ permitted the women to hold Him by the feet and to worship Him (see Mat_28:9).

No man ever spake as our Lord spoke. No man ever knew what our Lord knew. No man ever wrought as our Lord wrought. Surely He stands aloof from every man. He is high and lifted up, the Holy One of God. Let Him never be spoken of as a son of man. He was Son of Man because He was identified with man; He was The Son of Man because He was differentiated from all men.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR