Unique Part Four: December 3, 2009

TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY DECEMBER 3.

UNIQUE
THE UNIQUENESS OF JESUS
Part four

Defined by Webster:
Being the only one of its kind; unusual.

GODS WORD

“Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS
Then many of the Jews read this title --- the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Do not write the KING OF THE JEWS --- Pilate answered, WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN, I HAVE WRITTEN.” John 19:19-22.

WORDS BY KEN AND DOTTIE

As you are aware we are in the first week of four where we are preparing for the “CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS” on Christmas day. This week we are sharing our thoughts concerning the UNIQUENESS OF JESUS.

Our devotional thoughts today will deal with the fact that “Jesus was unique in His death and Resurrection.” In a number of ways His death was unique. He suffered a criminal’s death even though He was innocent of any wrong doing. Crucifixion is the most painful of all deaths but it was not the physical pain that Jesus dreaded. It was the fact that He had to take our sins upon Himself and since sin separates us from God, He had to be separated from God on that cross and this was the greatest agony for Jesus.

This is what made Jesus cry out as He hung from that cross: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.” Yet it was only by suffering this agony that Jesus could save us from eternal separation from God.

Jesus death was unique because of four miraculous events that accompanied His death:

• Darkness covered the whole world for three hours, from noon until 3:00 P.M.
• The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
• There was an earthquake.
• The tombs broke open and the bodies of many people who had died were raised to life.

Even the Roman soldiers that were guarding Jesus on the cross realized that He was unique in His death. After seeing what had happened they exclaimed: “Surely this man was the Son of God.”

He prophesied that He would be put to death and He died voluntarily, obeying His Father’s will, fulfilling all that He had prophesized about His death on the cross. He died voluntarily in obedience to His Father’s will.

And Jesus was unique also in His resurrection. His resurrection was prophesied by Old Testament prophets and by Jesus Himself. The Pharisees and the Jewish leaders who had wanted Jesus killed were so fearful about Jesus prophecy that they asked Pilate to completely seal the tomb and put it under guard. None of these precautions could hold Jesus in the grave. He arose from death unto life fulfilling all that had been prophesied. To remove any doubt that He had risen from the dead He remained on this earth for forty days and appeared over and over again to His disciples and others. The resurrection of Jesus is what makes the Christian faith unique from all others. Yes --- our Savior is alive.

For years we were involved in the annual Easter Sunrise service held in the famous Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Close to 20,000 people came very early (5 A.M.) each Easter Sunday morning to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. We all were moved each year by the beautiful choir music, the singing the old traditional Easter songs such as “He Arose” and “Crown Him with many Crowns.” And each year the unique story of Easter, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead was presented. These sunrise services will never be forgotten because they served as a reminder to all of us in attendance that Jesus was truly unique in His death and resurrection and today He is in heaven preparing a place for us as believers to spend an eternity with Him.

Start today, if you have not already, to prepare your heart for an exciting day on December 25 as we together will “CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS.”

REMEMBER OUR MEMORY VERSE FOR THIS WEEK
The Gospel in a nutshell

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should
not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER

How grateful I am that God sent His Son to die on the cross to pay my penalty for my sin. And also for the good news of the resurrection of Jesus that gives me the assurance of spending an eternity in heaven. Thank You dear Lord for Your uniqueness and for the salvation that You have given me.