LEARNING DAILY

Isaiah 53:2-3, For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.

This does not read very “Christmasy” does it! It is more to clear up possible misconceptions about Jesus than anything. Hollywood has given us many misconceptions on the appearance of Jesus. First, let me ask who you see when the name of Jesus looks like? Pastor Newton, in His message last weekend, that too often Jesus is thought of as this “buff”, good- looking guy that just drew people to Him because of His appearance. Of course, the color of His skin has entered the discussion, as if it matters.

We must remember that He was born into a Middle Eastern Jewish family. Yet Isaiah wrote that there was nothing about the appearance of Jesus that drew people to Him. He lacked any earthly splendor or physical attractiveness. What then causes people to be drawn to Him? Pastor mentioned that no one wakes up one day and says that today they are going to search for Jesus, believe in Him. and then, follow Him. The answer is found in John 6:44 where Jesus tells the reader, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws Him; and I will raise Him up at the last day.”

Jesus was not only rejected by people when He walked with men on this earth, He was hated by those who rejected Him. He is still rejected and hated by men today. Why? Is because people actually believe He is who He said He was and think that believing in Him and following Him they would lose their status and/or have to give up their possessions and wealth to do so? In Matthew 23:37-39, Jesus indicates His sorrow at the rejection by the Jewish people; He simply wanted to gather them together under His protection. But He said they were unwilling for Him to do so; their stubbornness reflects the stubbornness of people today and their resistance to the grace and will of God. Yet the people’s rejection and their treatment of Jesus was necessary for His death to occur. He was hung on a cross to take the sins and shame of a fallen world; it was a necessary part of the process.

This leads us back to John 6:44. God desires all men to come to Him and be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4). The problem is all are so filled with sin that not one of us has the strength or ability to seek after the Lord on our own. To draw all to Him, the Holy Spirit is sent to convict each person of their sin, unrighteousness, and understanding they will be judged accordingly. This is to draw all to Jesus, the only One who can forgive and cleanse them. The promise Jesus gave was He would lift all who believe in Him out of their unrighteousness and set them on a narrow way in order to cleanse and change them.

God desires all come to Him but that does not mean all will accept the salvation He offers. No there are many today that reject Him, ridicule and mock Him. He does not force His free gift of salvation on anyone, even when He desires all would be saved. However, each person is given the opportunity to respond to Him as He tugs and pulls on their hearts. Right now, the Holy Spirit continues to convict each person of their sin. The Word of God is still teaching the truths that help those who believe, to walk a narrow way. God still desires every person to accept His free offer of salvation through Jesus.

As we celebrate the birth of the Messiah, Immanuel, may we be thankful for God’s eternal plan of salvation for mankind, the plan to redeem each of us. May we focus on the greatest gift of all – a baby born who would live and die that we might live eternally with Him. May we be grateful that we said yes to the Holy Spirit’s conviction and know that someday this mortal body will put on immortality as we enter heaven and our eternal rest with Him.

I am so thankful God never gave up on me!