By: Carole L. Haines
He knows, Jesus knows what each one of us has suffered. He has experienced it in some form himself. The Bible tells us:
17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. (Hebrews 12:17-18 NASB)
Because of this, He is able help us, comfort us, strengthen us, guide us in all that we suffer in this life. We will gaze today at some of the sufferings that Christ endured in His short lifespan upon this earth. This will draw us closer to Our Precious Savior in gratitude and hope for this life on earth each of us must live.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
(Isaiah 53:2b-3 NIV)
Jesus was not one of the beautiful people. He was not part of the “in crowd.” As a matter of fact, He was probably considered an odd-ball by virtually everyone. Imagine his brothers and sisters, he did have them (Matthew 13:53-56). Imagine growing up with someone who never sinned, never faltered in any way. Never had to be corrected or disciplined by his parents. He was without sin, without fault, blameless.
Jesus was not attractive, look above at verse 2. We wouldn’t have given Jesus a second look while passing Him on the street as a child, before His Ministry. There was nothing about His appearance that would draw us to Him, nothing attractive. Have you ever felt cast aside, ignored, unappreciated? Jesus understands. Here was The Son of God, and no one gave Him any credence. We know that He knew who He was from at least the age of 12 (Luke 2:41-52)
He was despised and rejected by mankind. The word despised here means, considered worthless, scorned, regarded with contempt. He was so under-appreciated. We know He was no weakling because in those days a boy would begin his apprenticeship at about 15 years of age. He was strong, lifting all that wood, everything done by hand back then. Yet Scripture tells us He was rejected by mankind, a man of suffering and familiar with pain. When you look up the word for suffering used here, it means sorrow, physical and mental pain. Would Jesus have been that boy never picked for the neighborhood team in a game of kickball in the street? Maybe.
Like one from whom men hide their face. “Shhh, here He comes, don’t let Him see us. Don’t make eye-contact. He’s such a freak, such a weirdo.” Ever been there, considered a freak or a weirdo? I have, many times. It hurts, it just plain hurts. The music world has been a place where such feelings are expressed often. I can’t listen to some of those ‘outcast songs,’ without tearing up. But Jesus knows, He knows what that feels like. He was like one from whom people hide their face, He was despised. He was held in low esteem, not regarded or considered of much worth. He was not regarded as one with great purpose, but He had the Greatest Purpose we have ever seen. He came to earth as a tiny baby, in flesh. He grew up in a family. He showed us who God the Father is, modeled for us what God is really like. Then He suffered betrayal and abandonment by His closest friends, the disciples. He prayed in the Garden alone, while others slept, weeping tears of blood and fear. He was scourged alone, carried the cross alone, crucified alone. Yet He tells us He was never alone, For the Father was always with Him.
Yes, Jesus was not considered one of The Beautiful people, but he is Thee most Beautiful man who ever lived. His Beauty was inside, not out. He comforts the rejected, the outcast, the despised. He knows, He loves, He understands; and He promises to never, ever leave us or forsake us. Such is the Love of God.
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