HoHum:
Sir, have you ever been here before?
For 38 years Teddy Kollek served as the mayor of Jerusalem. Enormously popular in his day, he often met with Christian leaders to discuss issues of mutual interest, especially those pertaining to Israel’s security and the chances of peace in the Middle East. In those conversations questions would arise regarding Jesus and the Jews. Was Jesus or was Jesus not the Messiah of Israel? Many Jews believe that when the Messiah comes, everyone will recognize him. On one occasion when Teddy Kollek was asked if Jesus was indeed the Messiah, he crafted a unique reply. He said that when the Messiah comes, Christians and Jews should form a committee, compose a list of questions, and then seek an audience with the Messiah. At the top of their list should be this question: “Sir, have you ever been here before?”
WBTU:
That’s good, and one that we would expect a politician to use. It also points out the truth that after all is said and done, this is the whole difference between Jews and Christians. “Sir, have you ever been here before?” Christians answer one way. Most Jews answer another. There really is no middle ground. Either Jesus was the promised Messiah, or he wasn’t. If he was, how is it that the Jewish people, on the whole, didn’t recognize him when he came 2,000 years ago? The Presidential Prayer Team for each day has been highlighting a brand new member of the 2023 Congress. Had one member who had a stunning picture, turns out she is a model. Under religion it said that she is a Messianic Jew. Wow, this is rare and to be in Congress.
Isaiah 53:1-3 tells us that the people misunderstood Jesus when he came.
Thesis: Jesus is Misunderstood Messiah- how did that happen?
For instances:
I. They did not believe his message- Isaiah 53:1
Good question- who has believed our message? The answer is, very few. Jesus came as the Messiah but Israel wanted nothing to do with him. We know that for a time Jesus had a powerful and growing ministry, especially in Galilee. Thousands flocked to hear him speak and watch him heal the sick. As his reputation grew, the common people heard him gladly- he was so different from everyone else. We also know that many people followed him for shallow reasons. They thought he would proclaim himself king and lead a revolt against Rome. Or they liked his miracles. Or they admired his courage. Or they were drawn to the simple beauty of his teachings. In John 6, Jesus feeds over 5,000 with 5 small barley loaves and 2 small fish (John 6:9). Jesus and his disciples left that night and went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. The crowd finds Jesus on the other side of the lake and Jesus says,“I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” John 6:26, NIV. They just want to follow Jesus and not worry about food. Jesus begins to teach this crowd things that are hard to accept. “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:66-68, NIV. By the time Jesus came to Jerusalem after 3 years of preaching and teaching, the nation was divided over him. The common people liked him, but they did not worship him. To them he was a fascinating teacher and a great miracle worker, but they really did not know what to think of him. The leaders of the time were a different story. With few exceptions, they wanted nothing to do with him. They accused him of being in league with the devil (Luke 11:15). Jesus often preached against their hypocrisy and corruption and so they hated him so much that they plotted to kill him. In the end they succeeded. John says it this way: “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” John 1:11, NIV. We could easily translate “that which was his own” as “his own home.” He came to his own people- the nation of Israel, and they did not receive him. We could say that “home is where, when you go there, they have to take you in.” In the case of Jesus he came “home” to his own people, but they would not take him in. He came to the people who should have known him best, and they wanted nothing to do with him. They should have known better. They had ample warnings. Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Micah, Zechariah, Malachi, all said, “He’s coming.” This is a major theme of the OT- that God would one day send the Messiah to deliver his people. When Jesus finally arrived, they didn’t believe it. Some of them decided to put him to death. Think of the long history of Israel. Repeatedly they rebelled against God’s law. Often they killed the prophets who delivered God’s message. Is it any wonder they crucified the Son of God? Their rejection continues in large part to this very day. “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.” Romans 10:1, NIV. The next verse explains why the nation misunderstood who Jesus really was.
II. They judged him insignificant- Isaiah 53:2
He came from a common background. When God decided to enter the world, he came in an unlikely way. He came not as a conqueror or a world leader but as a helpless little baby, born in a stable, in the little village of Bethlehem, not Rome or Jerusalem but Bethlehem. Then he grew up in the even more obscure Galilean town of Nazareth. Years later his critics dismissed him by asking, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?” Matthew 13:55, NIV. This is not a compliment, it is meant as a slur. These were people from Nazareth. They had seen him grow up. They knew Mary and Joseph. They knew his brothers. “Who does Jesus think he is?” In a sense, we could hardly blame the people of Nazareth for reacting as they did. It’s hard for anyone raised in a small town to escape the box of early labels: “I doubt she’ll ever go to college.” “He’s never worked a day in his life.” “Her family takes public assistance.” “I knew he’d never amount to much, look at his family.” That’s not fair, but that’s life in small towns. It’s not always negative, but when people decide that we come from the wrong side of the tracks, that judgment tends to stay with us forever. So it was with Jesus. The people who knew him best (or thought they did) couldn’t take him seriously. Tell story of preaching at Coburn Corners. He was a tender shoot and a root out of dry ground, meaning that he didn’t come from a promising background. The phrase “tender shoot” means he was just a little plant that people look at as if it were a weed. A root out of dry ground is like a plant growing in an unpromising place. Much like the weeds growing out of bricks on patio.
He had an ordinary appearance. For 2,000 years people have wondered what Jesus looked like. Artists in every era have painted Jesus as they imagined him to be. Most of those paintings tell us more about the artist than they do about Jesus. The gospels tell us nothing about Jesus’ appearance. We know he was Jewish and that he was raised in the Middle East, and we know he was raised in a laborer's home. Nothing about his height, weight, color of his eyes, color of his hair, or any distinguishing features are mentioned. In American churches, Jesus often looks very American. Most of us have seen Warner Sallman’s famous painting called “Head of Christ.” Show picture. This is what millions think Jesus really looks like. No wonder it has been reproduced more than 500 million times. Jesus really does not look like that but we have to start somewhere. In most Hollywood productions, Jesus usually stands out from the crowd. Isaiah makes the opposite point. Jesus is nondescript- lacking distinctive or interesting features and characteristics. Jesus is neither prince charming nor Frankenstine’s monster. We can look at some people and see that they have the “it” factor- a quality that is difficult to define. We know they are destined for greatness. Jesus did not have the “it” factor for many people. He did not look the part of the Messiah. We can be wrong about many things and still go to heaven. We cannot be wrong about Jesus and go to heaven. That’s the tragedy of unbelief then and now.
III. They despised him for his suffering- Isaiah 53:3
The people had no use from him- despised and rejected. “So from now on we regard no-one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.” 2 Corinthians 5:16. Amazing how world despises and rejects those who are different
His whole life was marked by suffering. Man of sorrows, what a name, for the Son of God who came, ruined sinners to reclaim, Hallelujah, what a Savior. Did Jesus ever smile or laugh? I assume he did, but the gospels never mention it, perhaps because his whole life was marked by suffering. When he was born, Herod tried to kill him. When he began his ministry, the people in his hometown took offense at him (Mark 6:3). In the closing hours of his life, he was betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, and abandoned by everyone else. His suffering did not begin on the cross, but it was his suffering that led him to the cross. Isaiah 53 contains the good news we all need. He was bruised, wounded, beaten, betrayed, mocked, scourged, crowned with thorns, crucified- all for us. Our sins drove Jesus to the cross. But he did not go unwillingly. If our sins drove him there, his love for us kept him there.
He wasn’t the right sort of Messiah. 2x in vs. 3 Isaiah reminds us that people “despised” our Lord. That goes beyond rejection to hatred. They saw his suffering, and reckoned that he could not be the promised Messiah. “We esteemed him not” means something like, “He’s a nobody to us.” The leaders added it all up and decided that Jesus was worthy 30 pieces of silver. Jesus was truly the misunderstood Messiah. His own people misread him completely.
So what?
“This is what the LORD says--the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel--to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation” Isaiah 49:7, NIV. Cannot wait for the answer, “Sir, have you ever been here before?” One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ...
