April 27, 2004

THE HOLY ONE OF GOD

"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God" (Mark 1:24, NIV).

How ironic that while there was nothing in common between Christ and the demon at Capernaum, he was the first to publicly recognize Jesus as the Holy One of God.

This title of Deity occurs forty times in the Bible. In the New Testament it is used three times, and each time it is in direct reference to Jesus. John reminds Christians that they have an "anointing from the Holy One" (1 John 2:20, NIV). Peter denounces the religious leaders of his day for their denial of "the Holy and Righteous One" (Acts 3:14, NIV). And the demon hailed Jesus as the "Holy One of God" (Mark 1:24, NIV).

As the Holy One of God, Jesus came to be our Saviour and Lord. The Holy One of God lived among sinful humanity as the only human being who could be truthfully described as, "holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners" (Hebrews 7:26, NIV). Though tempted severely, He never yielded to sin. He alone was intrinsically holy. No one could convict Him of sin. He lived a perfect life, overcame the adversary, and won our salvation. As the Holy One of God, Jesus was the only one who could die to make people holy through His righteousness.

Here's the formula for becoming like the Holy One of God: "Christ, coming to the earth as man, lived a holy life, and developed a perfect character. These He offers as a free gift to all who will receive them. His life stands for the life of men... More than this, Christ imbues men with the attributes of God. He builds up the human character after the similitude of the divine character."--The Desire of Ages. p. 762.

My Prayer Today: Lord, because You are holy, You want me to be holy too. May Your Holy Spirit transform me into Your likeness. Amen.