I heard a strange voice behind me. Two ladies were backing a wheelchair out of a car. Then the person sitting turned around. I shivered from the shock of what I saw. His (or her) face was all red and purple patches, but what was more memorable was the shape of his head. It was hugely deformed like nothing I'd ever seen before. I went into Tesco and tried to get on with my shopping but couldn't think of anything I'd planned to buy.
As I went round the shop I kept hearing this loud voice and saw this strange figure visibly unsettling everyone he went by. An odd mixture of repulsion and pity overwhelmed me. He kept asking questions and saying hello to people, but most ignored him, seeming unable to set eyes on him. I waited and sure enough he was wheeled past me.
“Hello,” he said. I took a quick, quiet breath and then turned around, looked him in the eyes and said, “hello.” Nothing more. No, “Have you got much to buy today?!” Later I wished I'd said more, but as they continued, he mumbled something and his lady carer said, “...Yes he did. He's a nice man isn't he.” I knew she meant me. Meant that simply saying “hello” and not turning my back was a surprise for them.
“Like one from whom men hide their faces.”
This is Jesus.
“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him.”
This is our Saviour.
“Nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.”
This is the majestic King of the universe.
The God-Man of whom Isaiah the prophet says, “many...were appalled at Him – His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and His form marred beyond human likeness” is the One who will “sprinkle [with cleansing mercy] many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of Him.”
So may we see a “Beautiful Exalted Saviour”, but also one who was perfect in every way even in His suffering and death, disfigurement and ugliness. If ever there was a statement shattering the worldly concept of beauty, this is it. He never ceased to be perfect, holy, lovely and good - though men were repulsed by Him; though His appearance caused them to turn away. This is our God who “looks not on the outward appearance, but on the heart.”
Society doesn't prize or promote the value and needs of the physically 'unattractive'. If they are noticed, it is often only for the freak factor. As Christians, let's break off from the infatuation with passing beauty and look straight for the heart. Invest in the ignored. Listen to the lonely. Show kindness when it doesn't get shown to you. Look constantly upon our glorious Saviour, not simply basking in His eternal glory and beauty, but remembering His earthly humiliation and ugliness.
"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?"
