Christ Stands Alone

[286 words]

There had been other great teachers before Jesus. There had even been miracle workers before Jesus. However, even with all the powerful prophets who had come before Him, none of the other’s teachings were understood as inaugurating God’s long-awaited and promised kingdom. A new age dawned with the coming and teaching ofJesus. The world would never be the same.

Historian Philip Schaff (in his book, The Person of Christ) said this about the power of His teaching:

“Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science and learning, He shed more light on things human and divine than all the philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools, He spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of the orator or poet; without writing a single line, He set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art and songs of praise, than the whole army of great men of ancient and modem times [… ] Christ stands [… ] solitary and alone among all the heroes of history, and presents to us an insolvable problem, unless we admit him to be more than man, even the eternal Son of God” (29-30).

The officers who had been sent by the chief priests and Pharisees to arrest Jesus said it this way, “No one ever spoke like this man!” (John 7:46). Indeed. No one ever has, nor shall anyone ever rival the teaching of Jesus. He is the Son of God.

“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am” (John 13:13).

Bart Warren
S. Green St. Church of Christ
Glasgow, KY