"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men..." Many times when we think of Christ and His sacrifice for us we think of that moment when he was nailed to the cross. In really appreciating the sacrifice that was made for us we have to back up and take a look at the bigger picture and the entire sacrifice that was made. Christ knew that He was ordained before the world began as the only acceptable final sacrifice that would take away the sins of the world (Titus 1.1-2). Christ "... made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant". Christ's sacrifice for us included the fact that He left his home in Heaven to come to Earth for the purpose of dying for people who would not understand or care. How many of us would do the same thing. If the situation demanded that we move away from our homes to do the will of God, would we be willing to do it? Sometimes it seems that we don't make time to go next door or down the street. This was only the beginning of the sacrifice that was made. Isaiah sheds some more light on the nature of Christ's work and sacrifice for us.
" For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (Isa 53.2). In our culture there is a large emphasis placed on physical appearance. We want to look good, to be desired, at least by those who love us. Christ was not sent into this world in that way. Isaiah clearly states that the physical nature of Christ when he was here was not such that he would command this type of attraction. How miserable would we be if those around us found us to be repulsive or at least objectionable in our appearance. Christ however faced this. Think of the loneliness that this would create in someone today. Still that is not all.
As a result of this, attitudes toward Christ would be formed as well, based on the physical appearance. Isaiah states, "... yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." (Isa 53.4). Those of the first century placed much emphasis on the outward appearance, just as we do today. Based on that there was an attitude, as revealed by the prophet, that he was "smitten of God". It was therefore easy to reject Him, especially on the part of the religious leadership. Christ received no respect from those who hated him and what he taught. How many times do we shy away from these same attitudes, afraid of rejection and social isolation when it comes to teaching the Gospel. Christ however faced all of this and performed the will of God.
There was also the element of sorrow that pervaded the life of Christ. Sorrow in the fact that he would suffer as an evil person for things that he had not done. "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isa 53.5). What would we do if accused of something that we were not guilty of? Would we sacrifice our reputation for the sake of someone else? Would we want to endure the taunts and jeers, even while dying, of those who wanted to destroy us? Christ did exactly that. Christ's sacrifice was manifest in his entire life, by what he endured, for the sake of completing the salvation of those who would turn to him in true belief. Do we really appreciate and understand this?
The answer to that question has to be made by everyone of us. Repentance involves coming to a realization that Christ didn't just die on the cross. He suffered isolation, rejection, lonelieness and the perpetual grief of knowing that He was to be killed for things that he had not done. In addition to that, His own disciples failed to understand His purpose and teachings until much later, after Christ had left the Earth. How many of us would want to be appreciated after we were dead? We seek value in the eyes of others and wither when that does not come. We fail to persevere when things do not go our way or when we are not rewarded in some way for things that we do. Christ lived, and died, without having the luxury of being understood and loved for who and what He was. Is it really so much then to ask us to give up our stubborness and selfish pursuit of personal affirmation to follow that example and be more of what Christ was for us?
TLC