Lots of great religious leaders have been very spiritual and saintly (almost otherworldly, you could say), but what was so different about Jesus? — G.R.

The Bible says one thing set Jesus apart from every other person who has ever lived: He was both fully God and fully man. The Bible says, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9).

In other words, Jesus wasn't just a godly person who possessed an extra measure of spirituality. Nor was He simply a great religious teacher who had unusual insight into God's will. Nor was He only someone with special spiritual powers who could do miracles. He was more than these—for He was God in human form. Think of it: Twenty centuries ago, the holy God of the universe stooped down, entered this sinful world, and became a human being!

Why did He do this? One reason is so we could know what God is like. The Bible says, "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known" (John 1:18, TNIV). And what do we learn about God when we look at Jesus? We see God's love—a love so strong, Christ was willing to go to the cross for us. We also see God's power over evil, for by His resurrection from the dead, Christ conquered sin and death and Hell and Satan.

But Christ also came to offer us the gift of eternal life. Death is not the end, for beyond is the joy of heaven for all who belong to Him. Have you responded to His love by opening your heart and life to Christ? Don't let another day go by without Him, but by faith commit your life to Him today.