In his teaching sessions, apologist Jay Smith powerfully addresses the unique aspects of both Jesus’ humanity and deity. Smith often reminds his Christian hearers that “the greatest asset we have in convincing Muslims to embrace the truth is simply to set forth the uniqueness of the person of Jesus.” He then ends his presentations by asking Muslims, “What will you do with this unique God/man?” Finally, Smith winsomely admonishes his Muslim hearers: “Come home to Jesus!”
A few years ago a friend of mine who is a Christian from a Muslim background in Amman, Jordan, told me his conversion story. He said: “I searched for truth all my life. At the age of 24, I was given a copy of the Injil (New Testament). I started by reading the Gospel of John and I discovered two things in my reading. First, I recognized the uniqueness of the Scripture itself. Instead of me reading the Injil—it was as if the Injil was reading me! Later I heard someone describe the Scriptures as a “Talking Book”—and that is exactly what I experienced. It was as if the Scripture spoke to me. Second, I found extraordinary and unique revelations about the person of Isa (Jesus). I always knew that Isa was a great prophet; but in the Injil I found that He was much more than a prophet! He was the most unique “person” who ever lived. I was convinced to accept Him as my Lord and Savior.”
God raised up many prophets who were extraordinary men, yet they were born naturally, died naturally, and had many failings common to other men. But the virgin birth of Isa, His sinlessness, His sacrifice, His death and resurrection, His ascension, and His second-coming made it clear that He was more than a prophet. The Injil, according to the Apostle John, provides the following insights about Isa’s uniqueness:
He is the Word of God—eternal with God and of God as light and love incarnated as a human being, dwelling among us, full of the grace and truth of God (John 1:1-18).
He is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
He is the living water, the gift of salvation, teaching us how to worship God in spirit and truth—and viewing humanity as a field ready for harvest (John 4:1-42). “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37).
He is the “door” giving access to God’s Kingdom and the Good Shepherd who sustains the flock (John 10:1-18).
He is the resurrection and the life who raised Lazarus from the dead and is raised by God in victory and vindication (John 11).
He is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
He is the true vine, binding true believers like branches to God and calling his disciples “friend” (John 15).
He is the one who brings unity. He prayed for His disciples, “May all of them be one; Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me (John 17:21).
My Jordanian friend read the Injil with an open mind and found that Isa was much more than a prophet. Jesus was truly unique—solitary in type and characteristics; having no like or equal; unparalleled; incomparable.
What will you do with this unique God/man—Isa al-Masih?