What Makes Jesus Different?

Jesus is ________. 

If you asked people to fill in the blank you’d get an array of different answers. Jesus shook up the world unlike any person in history. So what is it that makes Jesus different? There are many things, but let’s take a look at five. 

1. He’s Still Alive

No one ever evaded the finality of death except Jesus. Christ’s resurrection sets Him apart because He conquered the grave. Over a forty-day period, more than 500 people (including the disciples) saw Jesus after He died. The disciples repeatedly testified that they were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ resurrection. When the forty days concluded, Jesus ascended to Heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to fill believers and continue the mission. 

(I Corinthians 15, Luke 24:5-6, Acts 1:2-22, Mark 16:1-20, John 20:27 and more)

2. Fully God and Fully Man

Jesus was God Himself in human form, both fully divine and fully human. Paul wrote to the church in Galatia that “God sent his own Son, born of a woman …” (Gal. 4:4), linking a truth recorded in the Gospels that Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, was born the son of Mary, a virgin betrothed to Joseph. The incarnation—God becoming human—is still relevant to our lives today. It means Jesus can sympathize with our weaknesses because He experienced things like temptation, suffering, and hunger, just like we do. 

(John 1:1, 1:14, Hebrews 4:15, John 10:30, Galatians 4:4 and more)

3. Sinless & Righteous 

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Nobody’s perfect!” But when it comes to Jesus, He’s the exception. He lived a life of perfect obedience and righteousness even though He faced the same temptations we do. His sinless life paved the way for the redemptive work on the cross—the forgiveness of sins for all humankind. 

(1 Peter 2:2, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:5, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 7:26 and more)

4. Supernatural Miracles 

The New Testament records at least 35 miracles Jesus performed, yet John wrote, "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." (John 21:25). Jesus performed these miracles in the presence of numerous eyewitnesses. 

(John 2:1-11, John 4:46-47, Luke 5:1-11, Mark 1:23-31, Mark 1:40-45, Matthew 8:5-13, and more)

5. Jesus is Relational  

Jesus doesn’t reveal a God who is distant and impersonal; He reveals a God who is relational. He teaches that we are so valuable to God that even the hairs of our heads are numbered. He loved us enough to die for us and calls us His children and His friends. This sets Jesus apart—He is not a force or energy source—He is a living God who wants a relationship with us.  

(John 15:15, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 4:19, Luke 12:7, John 1:12, Matthew 10:31 and more)

More Too Good To Not Believe Series Resources
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