Introduction
We often hear about the holiness of God. According to Scripture, it is one of His chief attributes. This is seen clearly in Isaiah 6, where the angels cry out, “Holy, holy, holy,” and cover their eyes and feet in His presence. When holiness is discussed, it is most commonly associated with the Father—and rightly so—and with the Holy Spirit, whose very name includes the term.
But rarely is holiness associated with Jesus. Theologically, we understand that Jesus is holy because He is God incarnate, the second person of the Trinity. However, Jesus’ holiness is sometimes overshadowed by His approachability, which—while comforting—can lead us to forget that He is also utterly holy.
The goal of this post is to reflect on the holiness of Christ and why it matters.
What Is Holiness?
Before we consider the holiness of Christ specifically, we need to understand what holiness means. Biblically, holiness has two key facets:
- Otherness – Holiness refers to God’s complete distinctiveness from all created things. He is wholly other, entirely set apart. This aligns with what theologians call the Creator/creation distinction.
- Purity – Holiness also refers to God’s absolute moral perfection. He is untouched by sin and cannot be corrupted. For instance, Scripture tells us that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2) and cannot be tempted by evil (James 1:13). These qualities sharply contrast with humanity, which is prone to deception and frequently tempted.
The Holiness of Christ
That Christ is holy is clearly affirmed in Scripture. Consider Mark 1:23–24:
“Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, ‘Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!’”
Jesus ultimately casts the demon out of the man, but what’s particularly significant here is the title the demon gives Him: “The Holy One of God.” This is not a new title—it echoes a well-established Old Testament designation for God Himself (see Isaiah 41:14; 43:3; 48:17; 55:5; Psalm 78:41).
Not only do the demons recognize Christ’s holiness, but the Apostles consistently preach it as well. Throughout Acts, Jesus is referred to as the Holy One (Acts 2:27; 3:14; 7:52), underscoring that He shares in the holiness of the Father and the Spirit.
A Picture of Holiness
Jesus is holy in that He is both distinct from all creation—being fully God and fully man—and morally perfect (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21). But what about those dramatic, awe-inspiring manifestations of holiness we see in the Old Testament, like the burning bush?
It’s important to remember that the Old Testament spans thousands of years, while the New Testament covers a much shorter period. Even so, there are striking moments in the Gospels that parallel those earlier theophanies.
One such moment is found in Mark 4:35–41, where Jesus calms a raging storm. The disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee when a violent storm arises, threatening their lives. In a panic, they wake Jesus and ask if He even cares that they’re about to perish. Jesus stands and rebukes the storm, and immediately the wind and waves are stilled.
This is a clear demonstration of divine power. But what stands out even more is the disciples’ reaction:
“And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!’” (Mark 4:41)
They were afraid of the storm—but they were even more afraid after Jesus calmed it. Why? Because in that moment, they glimpsed His holiness. His divine authority and “otherness” shook them to their core.
This response is reminiscent of Moses at the burning bush. In both stories, an encounter with the holy presence of God inspires fear and awe. Jesus, like the Father, evokes reverence—not just love or comfort, but trembling wonder.
Conclusion
It is true and right that we can now approach the Father through the Son. Because of Christ’s finished work, we come boldly—not in fear of condemnation, but in confidence as adopted children. And yet, we must never lose sight of Christ’s holiness.
His holiness does not diminish because of His love and accessibility. Rather, it makes both all the more profound. Jesus is equal with the Father and the Spirit in power, glory, and holiness. May we worship Him accordingly—with reverence, awe, and honor.