As we continue our study, Knowing Him, let’s consider for a moment the humanity of Christ. Just how ordinary was Jesus?
“My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.”
Isaiah 53:2 NLT
“He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”
Isaiah 53:2 NIV
“For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.”
Isaiah 53:2 ESV
“For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.”
Isaiah 53:2 NASB
“For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”
Isaiah 53:2 KJV
I wanted to read these words in several different versions, looking at this from multiple angles.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance…
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him…
He had no form or majesty that we should look at him…
He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him…
He hath no form nor comeliness…
Let the image of Hollywood Jesus forever be shattered. Jesus wasn’t one of the “beautiful people.” He wasn’t tall, dark, and handsome. He wasn’t physically imposing or appealing. He wasn’t strikingly handsome. His appearance didn’t shout “king” or “leader” or “world changer” or “key influencer.”
I don’t think this is saying Jesus was hideously ugly, repulsive, or unappealing. I think Jesus was just ordinary. Average. Average height. Average weight. Average looks. Average voice. Average dress. Nothing about His appearance stood out or made you take notice of Him. Jesus was just ordinary. No one was envious of His appearance and aspired to look like Him. Jesus blended into the crowd. Jesus was relatable to the everyday man.
I think that’s what the Father wanted. That was the Father’s plan. To make His Son approachable, relatable to as many people as possible.
If Jesus showed up on the planet today, how many Christians would miss Him because He just wasn’t what we were looking for. He was just too average, too ordinary. Would I see Him?
Jesus’ appearance, education, occupation, and wealth didn’t cater to the rich and famous, the powerful and important.
Jesus was just so ordinary, it was plainly understood that He was available for everyone, even sinners and tax collectors and prostitutes and lepers.
Jesus is for everyone.
Jesus is for me.
This post originally appeared at: Ordinary Jesus – Sonlife