You would think that the followers of Jesus would have at least a basic understanding of Him, what His purpose was during His earthly ministry and how the things that he experienced and showed us (all believers) were not only for us but for Him as well.
Since He was an example to all men who call themselves believers it was planned from the beginning that He would have none of the advantages in this life that His glorious position as the Son of God might or could afford Him. Our Lord Jesus humbled Himself to become the lowest of the low, not only in the day leading to the crucifixion but throughout His ministry.
This past Sunday Ray spoke of this and really brought to light the humble heart of the Creator of the Universe, leading up to the presentation were pictures of the Milky Way in all its splendor and the great and vast distances between the celestial bodies in our galaxy, of course creation is not limited to our galaxy alone, there are countless others out there. These pictures and discussion of the sheer majesty of His creation and how the Creator of it elected to become a man, not only a man but an undesirable, physically unattractive, sickly man who knew what day to day pain was through His own experience with it.
Ray passed around a picture that would be one of the popular renderings of what the churches believe (or would like to believe) Christ looked like, you know the look, perfect features a handsome countenance, movie star looks that would be the envy of the top male actors, if only they had People Magazine in those days, Jesus the heartbreaker would have had a huge following of teen age girls and breathless TV interviewers would hang on His every Word. This is the popular perception of our Lord's physical appearance, but what do the scriptures say?
(Rotherham's Emphasized Bible)
Isaiah 53
1 Who believed what we have heard?
2 <When he came up as a sapling before him. And as a root-sprout out of dry ground>
He had neither beauty or majesty, <When we beheld him> there was nothing to behold that we should desire him;
3 Despised was he, and forsaken of men, Man of pains and familiar with sickness,-
Yes <like one from whom the face is hidden> Despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 [Yet surely] <our sicknesses> he carried, And <as for our pains> he bare the burdon of them,-
But we accounted him stricken, Smitten of God, and humbled.
Not a pretty picture.
I admit that I never contemplated or meditated on this too much, I had come to realize through the scriptures that Jesus was not the handsomest man to ever walk the earth (Adam maybe) but did not see before that not only was He a plain man but actually unattractive even ugly, with physical ailments as well!
Ray also gave an example of how often Jesus was surrounded by "the multitudes" who were there for mainly one reason, to get healed! Well maybe get a free lunch or meal too, He was pressed upon constantly often having to go up a mountain or a boat to get some rest, some down time. (Do an e-sword search on multitudes you'll see what Ray was speaking of). Imagine having physical pain and being pressed upon by crowds constantly, everyone wanting something from you, He volunteered for this because He loves us so much, His way of life on this earth and His horrible death is exactly how He proves this. The ultimate proof.
Luke 4;23 And he said unto them-
[[By all means]] ye will speak to me this similitude: Physician heal thyself- <Whatsoever things we have heard of coming to pass in Capernaum> do here also, [in thine own country].
"Physician heal thyself," taunts from the crowd, wiseguys were as clever then as they are now!
This was an eye opener for me, in fact I was holding back the tears fairly well until I saw a brother actually sobbing in front of me, it was over, I wept in sheer awe of the infinite Love that is our Creator and our God, remember the Father is revealed through His Son, this is also the depth of Love our Father in heaven has for His children.
Joh 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
This is a powerful audio from last Sunday's portion of the Conference, it is an incredible thing to meditate on.
His Peace and Wisdom to you,
Joe