Isaiah 52:13 - 53:3 (ESV)
Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
he shall be high and lifted up,
and shall be exalted.
As many were astonished at you—
his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
so shall he sprinkle many nations.
Kings shall shut their mouths because of him,
for that which has not been told them they see,
and that which they have not heard they understand.
Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
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.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isaiah, in the above lines, is telling us about our Savior, Jesus, regarding His future crucifixion. God is giving the prophet insight into what will happen. When a savior comes you would think it would with royal robes and someone with a crown of gold, jeweler and an escort of mighty soldiers. But Jesus is going to come and the above is what others will behold. Note that is says:
... his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
... he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
This is the face of Jesus during the crucifixion. It is a face described as beyond semblance and with no desire to see. The face of Jesus would be so marred, others would look away. Yet, this is the face of our Savior.
The above describes Jesus’ suffering face. But note some other faces of Jesus:
Shining Face - as seen by Peter, James, John
Matthew 17:1-2 (ESV)
(At The Transfiguration)
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
Saddened Face - As seen by Peter
Luke 22:60-61 (ESV)
But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Sacrificial Face - As seen by the Soldiers
Matthew 26:67-68 (ESV)
Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
Stern Face - As seen by the Church at Thyatira
Revelation 2:18 (ESV)
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
Supremacy Face - As seen in the end times by the Devil and his leadership
Revelation 19:11-12 (ESV)
The Rider on a White Horse
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
Saving Face - As seen by all Believers
Revelation 22:3-4 (ESV)
No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Yes, the suffering face may not be one others want to see, but because we know He took our pain and paid for our sins, we can behold the face and see salvation.
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