What Makes Jesus Christ's Death Unique? Billy Graham Answers
Jesus Christ sacrificed His life and died on the cross for people's sins. But what makes His death different from those of other martyrs?
World-renowned evangelist Billy Graham was asked this question in his column for the Bowling Green Daily News. "Why is Jesus' death more important than that of any other famous person? After all, lots of people have been willing to die for causes they believed in (good or bad). Why is Jesus any different?" a reader asked.
Graham answered that there are two things that made Jesus' death unique. The first is about His identity — Jesus is God in human flesh, the evangelist said.
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Many tyrants in the past claimed to be divine, but Jesus Christ is the only true God. He proved His divinity not just through words but also by His miraculous acts and resurrection from the dead, Graham said.
Jesus' death was also unique because of what it had accomplished. "His death wasn't that of a martyr; His death was that of a Savior!" Graham said. "He came into the world for one reason: to become the final and complete sacrifice for sin."
He said before Jesus came into this world, people were separated from God, and therefore, sinners deserving of His judgment. But after Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, He claimed the world's sins and faced God's judgment so that mankind can be saved.
In an article on his website, Graham said Jesus' sacrifice turned out to be the greatest event in human history. That is why the day Jesus was condemned to die is called Good Friday even though it brought Jesus pain and suffering, he added.
"If Jesus had never gone to the cross, you and I would have no hope — no hope for forgiveness, and no hope of ever being in God's presence forever. But because He died for us, we do have hope — hope for today, and hope for eternity," he said.
