JESUS CHRIST...
THE WORLD'S GREATEST CHARACTER, PT. 1

By Homer Hailey

Jesus Christ, the world’s greatest character, is a gift from God. This is plainly stated by one who was qualified to know whereof he spoke: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The design of the gift, the reason for which it was made, is man’s redemption. God’s love prompted the gift; man’s need for redemption was the thing that caused God’s love to act. All of this is set forth in the Gospel of John, both by statements from the Lord himself as well as by statements from the inspired Apostle.

I


“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth it not” (John 1:1-5). This is John’s statement of the relationship of Christ to the Father. Jesus himself added to that, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). And again, “but I know him; for I am from him, and he hath sent me” (John 7:29). So Christ came into the world to reveal God to mankind. He came as the only begotten Son of God.

His coming from God, his being on an equality with God makes him absolutely unique among all those who have ever lived upon the earth. This is shown clearly in his statement, “Ye are from beneath; I am from above; ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto, that you shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:23). Being “not of this world” necessitates a miraculous or “unworldly” appearance on our planet. This is exactly what happened as we learn from Isaiah so many centuries before the time. For this great prophet of old foretold specifically that “The Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Is. 7:14). The word “Immanuel” means, “God with us”. This name belongs to Christ in a way that it has never belonged, and never can belong, to any child of Adam.

II


Not only is Christ the world’s greatest because of his Divine origin and relationship, but also because of the sinless perfection of his life. His years upon the earth, beset with every temptation known to man, were yet lived without a single spot or blemish. “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16, 16). There is no temptation that besets us, no experience that troubles us with which Christ was not familiar. He underwent the same temptations, the same weariness, the same heartaches.

After his baptism. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he fasted for forty days and forty nights. In his weakness and hunger, the devil came to him, saying, “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread” (Matt. 4:3). But Christ refused to yield to the devil’s alluring suggestion. Instead, he replied, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” This temptation was an appeal to the lust of the flesh – the bodily desire for food and ease. It is the kind of temptation which, sooner or later, comes to all the children of men.

Note: This mornings article is taken from a 1977 edition of the Christian journal, Vanguard.