THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PERSON WHO EVER LIVED    Isa. 53:1-3

 

1.  Is there anything wrong with being AVERAGE in appearance?  We sing about being like Jesus, well you

      know what, He was AVERAGE  in appearance!  A run of the mill sort of guy

2.  You can’t Judge a book by it’s cover - It was not what men “saw” but what they experienced in Jesus that

      drew them to Him

3.  Politicians depend on their “voter appeal”, actors on their “screen presence”, bankers on their

     “Professionalism”  - Jesus depends on His “Holiness”

4.  To see Jesus is to see Him as the Son of the Living God bearing your sins

5.  Let me ask you - Do you have a hazy image on your brain of what Jesus looks like? Perhaps you remember some

      painting you’ve seen? I would like for you to leave this morning not with an image but with sure knowledge of a

      person who you have a relationship with

 

I. V. 4-5 tells us of HIS PAIN he bore for sinners like you and I

     A. In the Gospels we read of the Pain At The Hands Of The Soldiers - ( The horrible death suffered by

           the Lord Jesus. He was forced to endure excruciating pain such as:

          1. Beating, Scourging, Spitting, Mockery,  Beard Plucked From Face, Stripped, Nailed To The Cross

          2. Crucifixion Itself - perhaps the most horrible way to die!  long and painful

          3.  The last Jesus movie - raw, painful - you couldn’t help but cry

     B. He Suffered Pain At The Hand Of Sovereign God - (Ill. Verses 4, 6, 10) While Jesus

         was on the cross a remarkable thing happened. Somehow, Jesus actually became the

         Manifestation of sin, 2 Cor. 5:21. In the mind of God, Jesus became the sin of the world and

         He was judged by the Father. (. The incredible events of Matt. 27:45-50. The crowd

         Mistook His cries and thought He cried for Elijah. However, He was calling out to his Father

         Who had turned away from this His "Beloved Son.") I cannot explain it, but somehow, God

         Poured out His wrath into the body of His Son and Jesus suffered the undiluted, unfiltered

        Wrath of Almighty God. Jesus literally suffered the worst agony Hell when He was on the

       Cross! What is Hell's greatest horror anyway, but separation from the presence of God! (2 Thes. 1:9-10)

C. He Suffered Pain At The Hands Of Sinners

     1.   The mocking crowds - those He had fed turned against Him

     2.  Jesus suffered because of you and me - our sins placed Him on the cross

     3.  Love held Him there - His love for us

D. Jesus died for you, I’ve described His suffering, you have mental images of His suffering NOW THINK of how much

     He loved you in order to endure that suffering - who else loves you that much?

 

II. The Real Beauty of Jesus can be seen in His Payment for our sins V. 6-7; 10b-11a

     A. In dying on the cross, Jesus did what no other could do, He satisfied God's righteous

         demands for the payment of sin.

          1.  when you die someone has to pay the bills you made while alive - even taxes!!!!

          2.  when you die, someone has to pay for your sins - either you or someone responsible for your debts - that person

               can be Jesus

     B. In Him, the sinner finds forgiveness for sin!

     C. Now, thank God, the world may remember my sins, the devil may remember my sins, you

         may even remember my sins, but Jesus has forgiven, and forgotten, my sins.

     D. John 1:29 - Jesus paid the price and the bill will never come due again!

         1.  Bill pay - banks love it - comes automatically out of your checking account - wouldn’t it be great if it came out

              of SOMEONE ELSE’S ACCOUNT?

         2.  Everyday that is what happens with your sins, Jesus pays for them!

         3.  Why is HE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PERSON? - because He pays your bill of sin EVERYDAY!

 

1.  Jesus is beautiful - not a painting of Him, not some mental image - but what He does for you everyday

2. Woman with ugly mutt of a dog in the vet’s office with broken legs - “It’s going to cost about $900. and even then he might not make it. Are you sure you want to do this and not put him down?” She explained, “My little girl ran into the street and the dog knocked her down before a car would have hit her. He’s a stray and a mutt but to me he is a hero!”

2.  If Jesus is not beautiful to you, you are still in your sins, it’s time to do something about your sin