Look At His Face

Isaiah 50:6 (HCSB)
       ”I gave My back to those who beat Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spitting.”

Isaiah 52:14 (NLT)

    “But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human…”

Isaiah 53:12

     “….. He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”

Jesus prayer for sinners: “Father, forgive them….” Luke 23:34 (KJV) “The wonder of all wonders is that Jesus prays for them, that His heavenly Father would open their eyes and help them to see their sin. He wants them to turn to Him in faith and repentance and not in vengeance. It declares guilt but also offers forgiveness at the same time.” Quote from John Neposlan and picture from Janet E. Brown.

Heavenly Father, other than what the Scriptures tell us, and some movies depict for us, I do not know how mangled Jesus body was nor how marred his face became from the beatings inflicted on him. I do know his greatest anguish was in his soul suffering for the punishment of my transitions and paying the penalty for my sin. In a way that is deeper than I can understand is Isaiah's prophecy “He poured out His soul unto death…..” Isaiah 53:12 (NKJV) 

And even deeper still does Matthew record: “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:45-46 (HCSB)

Holy Father only the Triune God knows the infinite density of that terrifying darkness. Therefore help us mortal, miserable and unworthy sinners to look at the face of Jesus, hear his prayer for us and then recognize and repent of our sin. There is no other hope or help than: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)

Amen.

The Privilege

Philippians 1:29 (NLT)
For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ

but also the privilege of suffering for him.

1 Peter 4:12-16 (NLT)
     ¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. ¹³ Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. ¹⁴ So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. ¹⁵ …. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

Father it is extraordinarily unique that Christians suffering for Jesus sake and honor have an unequaled, unappalled and unmatched joy. You do not to dismiss, deny or diminish the pain of suffering. You know that agony is difficult to deal with. But Christians do so with a joy that is deeper and more enduring.

Father You remind us through the Apostle Paul that: “¹⁷…. our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! ¹⁸ So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NLT)

You also referred to other believers in Hebrews 10:34 (NLT)
     “You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.”

Father how bizarre it appears for Christians to react to persecution with joy, responding with love and forgiveness to those who seek their harm.  

Jesus exhorts us: “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” Matthew 5:44 (NLT)  

The Apostle Paul exemplified this saying: “We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. ¹³ We appeal gently when evil things are said about us….”

1 Corinthians 4:12-13 (NLT)

The Apostle Peter encourages us: “….if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. ¹⁶ But do this in a gentle and respectful way…” 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NLT)

Father help us to be like You, Your Son, the Apostles and the Early Christians in how we respond to persecution. Also Father thank You for privilege of suffering for Christ and for enabling us to live boldly, die bravely and be blessed now and eternally. Through Jesus our only Savior and great example we pray. Amen

OFFENDED

Offended?

1 Corinthians 1:23 (NLT) 

      ”So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.”

1 Corinthians 2:2 (NLT)
   “For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.”

Galatians 6:14 (NLT) 

    “As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

Acts 4:17-18 (HCSB)
     ¹⁷ However, so this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again. ” ¹⁸ So they called for them and ordered them not to preach or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

In our “Political Correct Society” one of the techniques often used to intimate Christians is the manipulative statement: “That Offends Me!’’ This is used to hinder the freedom of speech we are all constitutionally guaranteed. It is an effort to silence Christians from their Biblical Witness to the Gospel anchored in the crucifixion of Christ. The Apostle Paul reminds us in “1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NLT) “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. ⁴ He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”

Paul also states with great courage: “….I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.” Romans 1:16 (NLT) Again he affirms:” As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Galatians 6:14 (NLT)

The words of that wonderful old hymn, on which our faith is founded, expresses our love and loyalty to Christ so well.

 

 2 Timothy 1:8 (NLT) 

   “So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord…..”