Isaiah 53:2-3; 10-12

Let me say at the beginning that we are reading “Jesus stuff” here, and we can’t do what he did, even if we try, we still cannot accomplish what he did… However, Philippians 2 teaches us to “let this mind be in you… Adopt this same attitude as that of Christ”

So, I come back to Isaiah 53 – God did this whole thing much differently than we would. I’ll be the first to say that all my life, I’ve wanted to do “great things” for God. That very definer though has been my struggle, “great” things. Let me say then, that the greatest thing we can do is to hear him, his call, his plan, and say, “YES”.

I included a picture of me running, because I do it a lot now, but I’m nothing special as a runner, just that I do it. My times aren’t remarkable, my finishes aren’t special, just that I do it. I will be the first to admit that I am a quite “unremarkable” person. I’m not big, not strong, not wealthy, I’m not a person who looks like much. I have struggled with that all my life. I spent a lot of time and energy trying to “become” something, and do something, but that’s ok because it keeps me moving forward.

Yet, I also struggle with not “being”. I always looked too young, so I acted older. I looked incapable, so I tried harder, and on and on. A lot of anquish comes with those struggles.

Yet Jesus – Creator of all things, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, he “emptied himself” – he “laid aside his glory”, Paul said.

So Isaiah 53 says of the Messiah to come, “he grew up… like a young plant… like a root out of a dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form (toar=handsome) or majesty (hadak = an ornament, honor, splendor) that we should look at him, no appearance that we should desire him.

Jesus could have come as a dashing “movie star” type… but he came unremarkably… we wouldn’t have given him a second look. He wasn’t handsome, he wasn’t splendid or honorable in appearance, no unremarkable.

v3 “He was despised and rejected, a man of suffering who KNEW what sickness was” – interestingly that word yada – “knew” is in the passive tense… he didn’t just do it, he experienced it. “he was like someone people turned away from… we did not value (chasab = to think or account).

You know growing up, I’m certain that he often heard “that’s just Jesus, he’s nothing remarkable”. Why do I say that, because his own brothers and sisters said those things, and the people of Nazareth said, “isn’t that the carpenter’s son”.

So the question then comes for us as we serve God, do we need to “BE somebody” to be used by God. Or, is what matters that we are from somebody, have something, for somebody?

Embrace the unremarkable, FOR the remarkable mission, with an eternal remarkable message, for the Glory of the One who is Worthy and Remarkable.

You read through Isaiah 53 and see in this passage what Jesus did in spite of it all.

v10 Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely… he will see his seed and prolong his days and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished.

Perhaps if Jesus HAD BEEN remarkable in appearance he never could / would have died for us.

v11 After – not before or during but, After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied.‘ That “satisfaction” means to drink until quenched. That is embracing the unremarkable and doing the eternal with all glory focused OUT.

v12 Therefore I will GIVE him… he will RECEIVE… because he willingly SUBMITTED… and was COUNTED…

Yes, I left out the specifics in there because they are part of Jesus’ call… our results will be different, but let this ATTITUDE be the same

• Empty Self
• Be Yourself, even unremarkable
• Seek to accomplish what pleases the Lord and
• We will Receive… as we Submit… and be Counted faithful…
• And Find Satisfaction
• After this

Philippians 2:13-15 It is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you might be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless… Shine Like Stars in the World

Embrace the Unremarkable