John Armstrong on the Incarnation

Today's extract, in regards to the incarnation is from an article called 'The Unique Christ and the Modern Challenge' by John Armstrong.

The Uniqueness of Jesus Demonstrated
It is my intention, in conclusion, to briefly demonstrate several of the factors which plainly demonstrate the complete uniqueness of the person of Jesus of Nazareth. If He is indeed the Unique One, then with the Apostle Peter we can confess with simplicity and profundity: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God" (John 6:68).

The Teaching of Jesus Was Truly Unique
Jesus went about preaching and teaching "the kingdom of God." What His hearers heard and understood seems to have been in a state of flux. People in His time expected a kingdom but not the one He came to bring. Jesus increasingly taught that the kingdom was coming with power. Men are able to recognize it because the demons are driven out (Luke 11:20). And it was not to be brought about by man, but by the power of God (Luke 12:32). Leon Morris writes: 'The New Testament shows God breaking into this world of time and sense so that we see nothing less than the power of God Himself at work in the kingdom which is set up in the work accomplished by Jesus.' The kingdom is God's, but it is also plainly said to be Jesus' kingdom as well (cf. Matt. 13:41; 16:28; 20:21; 25:34-40). Men not related properly to Him are outside this Kingdom (Matt. 7:23; Mark 8:38). T.W. Manson notes, "In the mind of Jesus, to become a genuine disciple of His and to enter into the kingdom of God amounted to much the same thing."

The Personality of Jesus Was Unique
Jesus was a gigantic figure! Nothing commonplace, or trite about His words and surely nothing bland and tepid about His person. The Jesus "meek and mild" of stereotypical conclusions is not seen in the Gospels. Meek He most certainly is, but not weak! He inspired complete devotion among His followers, not simply personal interest. Further He attracted men and women of all types and personalities. The high and the lowly, the brilliant and the uneducated, all sought Him out.

The Miracles of Jesus Show Him to Be Truly Unique
If there is any reliable record to be found in the Gospels, then undoubtedly Jesus did things which we must put in the realm of the miraculous by any definition of the term. Many in our day are embarrassed by so many miracles, feeling that they somehow discredit Christianity in our scientific age. In earlier eras of church history apologists referenced arguments for Jesus' uniqueness to such events. Explanations offered several decades ago suggested that the miracles were more or less an amazing human activity carried out through incredible faith. Therefore Leonard Hodgson says, "Think of the powers exercised by Christ as being powers open to manhood where manhood is found in its perfection."

The Sinlessness of Jesus Was Obviously Unique
In John 8:46 our Lord asks a question of His enemies, a bold and daring approach all must agree. "Which of you convicts Me of sin?" None takes up His challenge. He is accused of blasphemy because of His claim to be equal with His Father (Yahweh), but no accusations of personal moral or spiritual failure are brought against Him.

Before one concludes that the early church simply painted Jesus through "rose-tinted glasses" he should be reminded that the church openly showed itself "warts and all" in telling its own story and that of all its human leaders. And these men lived with Him for the better part of three years, seeing Him under all kinds of stress and unimaginable pressure.

Moreover, adds Leon Morris, "... the Jesus of the Gospels does not conform to first-century specifications for a hero, either Jewish or Gentile." 23 Finding faults in great men and women of the past is not hard to do, even when we read the accounts of their best friends. But this man was different. He was truly unique!

Read the complete article at:
http://theresurgence.com/john_armstrong_1993-04_the_unique_christ_and_the_modern_challenge