Reading that title, most will assume there’s something I need to apologize for. Yes, the common meaning of “apology’ is admitting a wrong doing and confessing it to one who was offended. While for sure there are many times I need to do that, I’m here using it in the classic Greek sense: to defend a position: the core Christian belief that Jesus and God are the same.[Artwork source].

Consider this position in reading today’s Scripture:

KEY SCRIPTURE:
“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing (Isaiah 40:25-26).

Now take that passage and replace “Holy One” with “Jesus.” If Jesus is God in the flesh, He is here saying that no one is His equal—and that He created the cosmos. The implication of this to mankind is huge. First, consider this question: Is Jesus the only way to peace with God? The answer to that question is in rephrasing it: Is God the only way to peace with God? Of course. There could be no other way.

Hubble telescope photo

Many non-Christians often feel offended by this affirmation. The offense, however, is not, as many suppose, the claim that “my religion is superior to your religion (or lack of religion).” The offense is even greater—the offense of the Gospel, in fact. If Jesus is indeed the Creator of the cosmos, faith in any other religion or god is simply meaningless. But the “good news” (the meaning of “gospel”) is that Jesus has made peace with Him possible by bearing the penalty of our sin on the cross. No one needs to be offended by the claim that “Jesus is the only way.” It’s the most joyful claim ever made! It’s the fulfillment of the hope of every person—that our greater Creator is also our Savior.

The truth of this was stated elegantly by William Emmanuel Booth Clibborn (1893-1969) who was the grandson of William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army. In 1921 he wrote the words to “Down From His Glory.” These powerful lyrics became even more intense when he adapted them to the tune of Edwardo Di Capua’s famous “O Sole Mio.” Catch the grandeur of this truth in this YouTube presentation as you contemplate this foundational Christian belief in Clibborn’s lyrics:

Down from His glory,
Ever living story,
My God and Savior came,
And Jesus was His Name.
Born in a manger,
To His own a stranger,
A Man of sorrows, tears and agony.

Refrain:

O how I love Him! How I adore Him!
My breath, my sunshine, my all in all.
The great Creator became my Savior,
And all God’s fullness dwelleth in Him.
What condescension,
Bringing us redemption;
That in the dead of night,
Not one faint hope in sight,
God, gracious, tender,
Laid aside His splendor,
Stooping to woo, to win, to save my soul

This is indeed the greatest wonder of creation—the very one on which this website is based.