Hope Of A Savior

An Unlikely Savior

Jesus left the glories of heaven to step into humanity. He chose to do so in the most unlikely way. One would think that Jesus would come as a strong, handsome, stately man. This is not how he chose to come.

He came as a tender shoot like a root out of parched ground. Jesus came in the fullness of man. This means that he went through natural birth, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Jesus perfectly identifies with us because he went through life the same way we did. He did not skip any steps. He knew what is was like to be under the authority of His parents. He knows what it means to grow in wisdom and knowledge as an adolescent. He knows what it means to have the responsibility of an adult. Jesus came as a tender shoot. He did not come as a stately king, but as a child born in an animals stable because there was no room for Him in the Inn.

Isaiah said that there was nothing about Him that we should be attracted to Him. He was a simple man that looked much like everyone else. In the Jewish culture they desired people that had good physical characteristics to lead them.

Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a Benjaminite, a [a]valiant mighty man. 2 He had a son whose name was Saul, a young and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome man than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people. 1 Samuel 9:1-2

When Israel was looking for a king they wanted someone who had strong physical characteristics. Saul met the criteria. He was handsome and tall. The people desired to have him as their king based on his physical characteristics.

Jesus did not come this way. He came as a normal person in a way that would draw no attention to Him.

A Despised Savior

A leader is generally liked by the people that he leads. Isaiah says that Jesus was despised and forsaken by men. He did not come to win a popularity contest. He came to save people from sin. In order to do this He had to confront people about their sin. This was not popular. As a matter of fact, it made people despise Him. Especially the religious people of the day. They liked their comfortable powers of position afforded to them by tradition. Jesus came to tell them that their tradition was wrong. Their tradition was based on the fact that because God chose Israel that He owed them eternal life. Jesus came to tell people that know one deserves heaven and no one will receive eternal life apart from faith in Him.

Jesus came to preach a message of repentance and faith. This teaching was counter to tradition and incited hatred towards Him.

The religious people of the day made His ministry very difficult. They were constantly critical of Him. They were vicious in there attempts to discredit Him. And if that wasn’t enough they tried to kill Him every time they got a chance. Eventually they did by crucifying Him on a cross.

Jesus was like a man from men hide their face and was despised.

A Suffering Savior

Jesus did not come to be served but to serve. He came to save sinners. Isaiah says that He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. The punishment for all sin was placed upon Jesus on the cross of Calvary.

The wrath of God is poured out on every sin. The punishment for one sin is eternal damnation in the lake of fire. This is the only thing that can begin to appease the wrath of God for sin. Jesus bore the punishment for every sin! The punishment that is due us for our sin, Jesus paid the penalty. It is in this that He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows.

He was esteemed as stricken by God. People saw him as a cursed man. He took on sin of humanity so that he could free man from the penalty of sin.

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a [a]tree”— Gal. 3:13

Jesus became our curse so He could give us His righteousness.

Jesus suffered the cross for us. Isaiah says that He was pierced through for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities and was scourged for our healing. The crucifixion of Christ is not something to be glamorized. It was brutal and violent. There is nothing good about the process. It was a form of punishment that the Romans used to let people know that they were in control. Jesus was beaten beyond recognition, nailed to a cross, and stabbed in the side by a spear.

Why did Jesus do this or allow this to happen? Because all of us like sheep have gone astray. Because we have gone astray we are responsible for our own actions. The problem is that there is no way to atone for our own actions. Jesus had to atone for our actions.

A Worthy Savior

Isaiah says that God was pleased with crushing His only begotten Son. You may say that is the craziest thing I have ever heard. Why would anyone want to crush their own child? The answer lies in the following verses!

Jesus was the only one worthy to satisfy the wrath of God for the sins of man. By crushing His own Son He saved humanity. Jesus is our guilt offering. What He did by sacrificing Himself atones for all our sin! Jesus is the only person without sin that could serve as a sacrifice for our sins. Apart from Jesus there is no hope!

29 The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

There have been a lot of good righteous men that have lived. There has never been one good enough or righteous enough to take away your sins. Everybody sins and is guilty before the Father. Jesus is the only person who has live that has never sinned. Because of this He is worthy to take away the sins of the world.

Jesus is so worthy that it pleased the Lord to crush Him. By crushing Him it demonstrates to all creation that there is no one more worthy than Jesus. There is no one who has more authority or higher in power than Him. By crushing Jesus He brings glory to Himself. The penalty of death is replaced by eternal life for those who repent of their sins, put their faith in the atoning power of Jesus sacrifice, and make Him Lord of their life!

A Rewarded Savior

God rewarded Jesus by having His wrath against sin satisfied. God no longer sends all people to hell because He has made a way for people to be saved. People go to hell because they refuse to acknowledge Jesus as God’s Son and therefore must bear the wrath of God for themselves.

Jesus gives eternal life to those who put their faith in Him.

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:16-17

Jesus is rewarded in the victory that He brings to humanity and the glory He brings to God. Jesus brings salvation to those who trust in Him by atoning for their sins, giving the Holy Spirit as a pledge for this life, and one day will glorify His children.

God rewards Jesus in His glorious return. When Jesus returns it will be unmistakable.

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:10-11

12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was [a]myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.”

13 And I heard every created thing which is in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, or on the sea, and all the things in them, saying,

“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever.”

14 And the four living creatures were saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped. Rev. 5:11-14

So where does our hope come from? It is not in ourselves, accomplishments,our wealth, or our positions in life. Our hope is in Jesus Christ and the eternal life He gives. Do you have it today?

13 Therefore, [a]prepare your minds for action, [b]keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13