JESUS HAS SPRINKLED THE NATIONS
From The HeartPublish date: 11/18/2001
See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him--his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness--so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand. Isaiah 52:13-15 NIV
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 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. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:1-3 NIV
In their pride, men have been trying for generations to reach God their way. They look at what they can see with their eyes and understand with their minds. They imagine that they know who God is and also what He requires of us. Because of this, men have done all kinds of weird, wonderful and sometimes strange and even horrible things in their quest to please God or who or what they think of as their god. They are not aware that God has already reached down to them and provided a path into His glorious presence through Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
We expect a king - or the son of a king - to look, speak and behave a certain way. We judge them by their outward appearance. If we met the son of a king, knowing that he was the son of a king, we would undoubtedly treat him with great dignity and respect. However, if we did not know that this person was actually a prince, we would probably treat him like any other regular person.
If he did not make a very good impression on us, we possibly would not think much of him and we might treat him with even less regard than we would treat any one else. Once we found out that he was royalty, our attitude might change a great deal. We would suddenly offer this prince preferential treatment. This is rather insincere of us, but it is how people act all the time. We look at outward appearances and allow them to influence us.
Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost. He came to heal, deliver and set us free. But when He walked on the earth, as a man, we had no idea Who He was or what He came to do for us. The Bible says that He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. Even now He is despised. Despised by those who do not recognize Him for who He really is and by those whose eyes have been blinded by the enemy and also by their pride.
Jesus was the Son of God. He came to love, heal and forgive. He offered us a ticket to heaven – priceless and yet totally free of charge to us - all we have to do is humble our hearts to receive. And yet He was despised and rejected by men – we did not regard Him nor esteem Him. In fact, there were many who were appalled at Him--His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and His form marred beyond human likeness.
They thought of Him as nothing more than a mere man – a liar and a fraud. They mocked Him, beat Him, spat on Him and crucified Him. And yet He was an offering, poured out for the very ones who despised Him. Not only that - He did it all willingly in spite of the way He was treated.
Because Jesus acted wisely in obeying His Father, God says that He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. “He will sprinkle many nations” – Jesus may have been despised and rejected, but through His death and resurrection He has impacted the nations of the world by His Spirit and His word. “Kings will shut their mouths because of Him” - the whole world – kings too – must bow their knee and acknowledge Him as King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
Something wonderful happens when our eyes are opened and we see Jesus for Who He really is. Something happens on the inside of us and we are changed. What we were not told, we will see, and what we have not heard, we will understand. You may have unknowingly despised Jesus in the past, but as you acknowledge Him and receive Him as Lord and Savior – you will see what you have not been told and understand what you have not heard and you will know the truth – that Jesus is Lord!