Jesus: Lesson #5

#5 - From one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, we can learn that Jesus was not loved because he was good looking. The Bible tells us that there "was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him." What attracts us to Him is His heart - His compassion, His love, and His power of healing (both spiritually and physically). Our family shares this desire - to attract others (for the sake of Jesus) because we show compassion and love. We pray that we not focus on the physical aspects of our appearance or the physical aspects of material things - through love and compassion, may we reach others and grow the Kingdom of God.

Isaiah 53:2-10

"My servant grew up in the Lord's presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground.  There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected-a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by.  He was despised, and we did not care.  Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.  And we thought his troubles were a punishment for God for his own sins?  But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace.  He was whipped, and we were healed!  All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.  He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word.  He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.  From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins-that he was suffering their punishment? He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a crimnal: he was put in a rich man's grave. But it was the Lord's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief.  Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs."

Thank you, Lord, for our salvation.  May we always strive to do Your Will.

Toddy