A Makeover for Jesus

Who has believed our message?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

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.

He was despised and forsaken of men,

A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;

And like one from whom men hide their face

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Isaiah 53:1 – 3

Dare we say it? Dare we admit it? We have given Jesus a makeover. Is our Jesus the one that Isaiah writes about?

Of course not. Who would be attracted to a church with the Jesus that Isaiah portrays? Who would support a church that proclaims a suffering Messiah? We cannot have a Jesus from whom men and women hide their faces.

If we have a suffering Messiah then we must have a Cross. If we have a Cross then we must have sin. If we have sin then we must have sinners. If we have sinners we must preach repentance. If we preach repentance we will offend people. If we offend people then where will money for our budget come from? If we offend people then they will not like us.

Better to give Jesus a makeover than to preach the offense of the Cross. Better to put makeup on Jesus than present Him crucified, bearing the wrath of God for our sins, bearing our sinful selves on the Cross.

I’m sure He will understand.

What do you think?