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What are the Portraits of Jesus Christ? (Part 1)

Updated on May 2, 2014
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The Portraits of Jesus Christ according to Prophet Isaiah


The book of Isaiah as described in the Holy Bible, is regarded generally as the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. (Source: Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible).

In the New International Version bible, Isaiah, son of Amoz is often thought of as the greatest of the writing prophets. His name means, "The Lord saves." Isaiah's book unveils the full dimensions of God's judgment and salvation.

In the New Living Translation, it is called the Bible in miniature. It has more overtones of the New Testament than any other Old Testament book. Isaiah gives us a complete picture of God as unique and transcendent (beyond our experience). Yet the holy and exalted God reveals himself and desires to be Immanuel (God is with us). Therefore, the transcendent God is also immanent (nearby). God's nearness prepares Isaiah's readers to receive God incarnate (in the flesh) Jesus Christ, who is truly the Immanuel as revealed in Matt. 1:23. “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they call his name Immanuel (Also Emmanuel) which being interpreted is, God with us." (KJV)

So how Isaiah did picture Jesus Christ? Below are the accounts of Prophet Isaiah's most perfect picture of the history, characteristics, titles (picture or portrait), and missions of Christ Jesus any of the great Hebrew prophets.

Isaiah 7:14 tells us the prophecy of the birth of the Messiah as Immanuel which is interpreted as God is with us and clearly explained in the Scripture: "Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (NIV)

This prophecy fulfilled in the New Testament, Matthew 1:23, which says, "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel---which means, God with us."

Immanuel, the promised Messiah. The Scriptures says that an angel of the Lord revealed to Joseph, the son of Jesse who was also the promised husband of Mary. "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:20 NIV)

If we read in Second Samuel Chapter 7, Jesus Christ is the complete and final fulfillment of God's covenant with David.

Jesus Christ, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (NKJV),

Jesus Christ, the Mighty God showed His divine power as a warrior, an affirmation of the Messiah's divine nature. As Everlasting Father, He is our compassionate provider and protector-he will never leave us nor forsake us (Jehovah Jireh and Jehovah Shammah). His unfailing love endures forever as evident in giving up His own life for us.

Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, the whole Chapter 9 of Isaiah speaks about the child who shall reign as the Prince of Peace. His rule will bring wholeness and well-being to individuals and to society.

God as illuminator (light) revealed through Christ, as stated in Chapter 9:2 "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined."

Jesus and his salvation would be a "light" for the Gentiles and for those who are walking in darkness. We already know that Jesus is the light of the world---so if we walk in the light we can see clearly the right path that leads to eternal life, no matter how narrow and difficult it is. We will never fear for we have Jesus Christ in us. Jesus Christ---the Word is a light to our path and a lamp to our feet (Ps 119:105)



SOURCES:

BIBLES

*New International Version Study Bible

*Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible

*New Living Translation Study Bible

Commentaries:

John Gill

Matthew Henry

If we really know our real God... the one true God, we will understand that He is the same God who created the heavens and the earth. His Holy Spirit was hovering around the empty earth, and the same God who came on flesh as revealed in Jesus Christ, who himself said: "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word." (John 17:6 NIV)

Isaiah 11:1, the history of family revealed in the Scripture "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots."

Isaiah was speaking about the roots-he has portrayed the exact presentation of Jesus Christ ancestry going back again to the covenant of God with man from Adam to Noah to Abraham and to David.

God being so true and faithful to His promise and vow that He will come to save His people... materialized with the coming of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 11:2 "The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord."

God poured out his anointing to His own flesh giving Jesus Christ the spiritual discernment, to be a good judge that justice shall prevail. That being a reprover, God's righteousness would be established.

Isaiah 11: 3- "His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins and faithfulness the belt of His waist."

Such powerful words that comes from our God... when I think of these revelations from Isaiah... God in the very beginning has always been expressing His ultimate love for His people... He is always righteousness and just... but the people do not understand the truth. Despite this, God is always extending His right hand to us...

Jesus Christ as the righteous King. Isaiah 32:1 "Behold a king will reign in righteousness and princes will rule with justice." He is the righteous king. His justice always gives atonement for a repentant heart. Jesus loves honesty and truthfulness. The bible says that the fruit of righteousness is peace. (Isaiah 32:17)

Jesus Christ, the Divine Servant. Isaiah 42:1 "Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles."

The word servant in the royal terminology of the Ancient Near East meant something like "trusted envoy" or "confidential representative". Chosen one, in Hebrew it is "ebed" pronounced as "eh' bed" which means bondman or bondservant. It also refers to one who occupies a special position in God's royal administration. Jesus Christ as God's anointed one as the Divine Servant comes in Power and Love.

SOURCES:

BIBLES

*New International Version Study Bible

*Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible

*New Living Translation Study Bible

Commentaries:

John Gill

Matthew Henry


God as revealed in Jesus Christ described by Isaiah possessed the characteristics of silence, gentleness, perseverance, and radiance. His missions as Lawgiver and Liberator have been fulfilled.

Isaiah 42:2-4, 6-7 "He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax, He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands shall wait for His law... I the Lord, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open the blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison."

There is no power that can equal and surpass the power of God that even before he did all these things... He first let it be known to His people through the prophets. However, people choose to believe lies. People who are expecting the Messiah to come in a kingly garment... Nevertheless, God choose to be born in the lowliest way that is to show the meekness of His heart.

Isaiah 53:1-3 "Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground, He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

In your own understanding, did you pause for a moment to think of the personal appearance of Jesus Christ? How does He reveal Himself to you?

The bible says the people did not believe the report about Jesus Christ because "the arm of the Lord" is not revealed to them; they do not discern, nor will be brought to acknowledge, that divine power which goes along with the word.

Speaking about Jesus as the arm of the Lord, as God's arm, His right hand, Jesus took the mission as Burden-bearer, Only Savior, Sin-bearer and Intercessor. He walked with compassion, meekness, going through with that vicarious suffering in the Calvary, despite His sinlessness. Jesus has shown the greatness of God and His saving power.

The word arm in Hebrew symbolizes power. Therefore, Jesus Christ as the arm of the Lord is the symbol of God's power.

The arm of the Lord is made bare (as was said Isaiah 52:10) in the miracles that were written to confirm Christ's doctrine, in the wonderful success of it, and its energy upon the conscience; though it is a still voice, it is a strong one; but the people do not perceive this, nor do they experience in themselves that working of the Spirit which makes the word effectual. They did not believe the gospel and by rebelling against the light they had, they had forfeited the grace of God. The grace of understanding the kingdom of God was withheld from those who do not believe in Him.

This is a thing we ought to be much affected with; it is to be wondered at, and greatly lamented, and ministers may go to God and complain of it to him, as the prophet here. What a pity is it that such rich grace should be received in vain, that precious souls should perish at the pool's side, because they will not step in and be healed!

Why did the people despise Jesus and rejected Him? When he was on earth many that heard him preach, and could not but approve of what they heard, would not give it any regard or entertainment, because it came from one that made so small a figure and had no external advantages to recommend him. That is the nature of our world, if somebody speaks things that are good stuff... we try to investigate first the background, the educational qualification... all the things that we believe as basis for acceptance of a person's deeds no matter how commendable. But in the case of the Lord Jesus Christ, aside from the people's disbelief of His Word, they rejected and despise Him because of His personal appearance.

Jesus Christ came on flesh in the lowliest way. Imagine being born in the manger and not only that... the Holy Bible speaks of Jesus as " root out of dry ground, He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him."

It was expected that his extraction would be very great and noble. He was to be the Son of David, of a family that had a name like to the names of the great men that were in the earth, but instead He sprang out of this royal and illustrious family. It was reduced and sunk, and Joseph, that son of David, who was his supposed father, was but a poor carpenter. God, the most Sovereign of the heavens and the earth and even underneath the earth choose to come in flesh from a poor family. This was not our expectation of a King... the Jews expected the Messiah to be clothed in a Kingly manner and that every eyes should see His richness in the eyes of the world.

It was expected that he should have some uncommon beauty in his face and person, which should charm the eye, attract the heart, and raise the expectations of all that saw him. But there was nothing of this kind in him; not that he was in the least deformed or misshapen, but he had no form nor comeliness, nothing extraordinary, which one might have thought to meet with in the countenance of an incarnate deity. Those who saw him could not see that there was any beauty in him that they should desire him, nothing in him more than in another beloved.

When I think of this description... I was wondering... what if... I was there at that time... would I be one of those who believed or would I be one of those who did not believe? No wonder that Judas need to give sign to the Pharisees and the High Priests (like the kiss) to identify Jesus because of his appearance.

The low opinion that men about Jesus at that time is not new to us. Being generally apt to judge of persons and things by the sight of the eye, and according to outward appearance. We always see the outward beauty, the physical appearance. That was how the Jews see Jesus. They saw no beauty in him that they should desire him. There was a great deal of true beauty in him, the beauty of holiness and the beauty of goodness, enough to render him the desire of all nations; but the far greater part of those among whom he lived, and conversed, saw none of this beauty, for it was spiritually discerned. The same as of today, there are still people who do not believe in Jesus nor they believe in God. The people always wanted proof. "To see is to believe as they say," but Jesus said "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Carnal hearts see no excellency in the Lord Jesus, nothing that should induce them to desire an acquaintance with him or interest in him. Yes, he is not only not desired, but he is despised and rejected, abandoned and abhorred, a reproach of men, an abject, one that men were shy of keeping company with and had not any esteem for, a worm and no man. He was despised as a mean man, rejected as a bad man. He was the stone which the builders refused; they would not have him to reign over them. Men, who should have had so much reason as to understand things better, so much tenderness as not to trample upon a man in misery - men whom he came to seek and save rejected him:"We hid as it were our faces from him, looked another way, and his sufferings were as nothing to us; though never sorrow was like unto his sorrow.

God would never draw away His face, His real beauty to those who believe Him. We can say that our sins had reached to the point that God Hid his face from us and concealed the glory of His majesty, and drew a veil over it. Jesus said to Nicodemus "No one can see the kingdom of heaven unless he is born again." It is only by repentance and submitting ourselves to God in the name of Jesus Christ that we will see the real beauty of the Lord. He will reveal to us His majestic beauty that no man can equal. That transfiguration of Jesus in Getsemani witnessed the reality of Jesus personality.

Christ having undertaken to make satisfaction to the justice of God for the injury man had done him in his honour by sin (and God cannot be injured except in his honour), he did it not only by divesting himself of the glories due to an incarnate deity, but by submitting himself to the disgraces due to the worst of men and malefactors; and thus by vilifying himself he glorified his Father: but this is a good reason why we should esteem him highly, and study to do him honour; let him be received by us whom men rejected.

The world is very much deceived today of the worldly beauty laid out by Satan. He tries to imitate Jesus Christ...but he could never imitate Jesus. Satan's real color and ugliness are always revealed just a mere word that comes from his mouth. There is no beauty in Satan even in the words.

Isaiah 53:4-12 say, "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His stripes, we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet he opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth."

Finally, Jesus as the Anointed Preacher (Isaiah 61:1), the Good News of Salvation. The mystery of godliness as revealed to us through Jesus Christ can never be imitated by the enemy. God's plan for salvation and His love for us were demonstrated on the teachings of Jesus Christ and His ministry as the real revelation of God Himself on flesh. He was the mighty traveler, preaching the good news to all people that they might be saved. He preaches good tidings, heals the brokenhearted, proclaims liberty, frees those in bondage, and restore what has been destroyed because of our iniquities. He heals generational curses (sins of the fathers) and gives double honor to those who return to the Lord God in the name of Jesus Christ and will have everlasting joy and everlasting life.

God's wrath fall to Jesus because of our sins. God Himself who came on flesh bore all our sins and iniquities. That is something to ponder. That God... did not delegate any angel or whoever in heaven to save His beloved creation, His people, but He came Himself and died for our sins. He just did not die because people at that time wanted to kill him but with his own will and power, he laid his life for the salvation of the whole world.

In John 10:17-18, Jesus said, "The reason my Father loves me, is that I lay down my life---only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to taken it up again. This command I received from my Father."

When I think of how worst sinner I was... I feel that my heart was pierced by a sword. I cried because of the stripes and the sufferings I caused God to suffer. I could not be perfect, as I am human but with Jesus... I surrender my whole life to Him that I may have rest in Him. I may make wrong decisions... and walk in a crooked path... but His right hand will always take me out of that mess and put me back in the right path again to walk in righteousness with Him.


BIBLES

*New International Version Study Bible

*Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible

*New Living Translation Study Bible

Commentaries:

John Gill

Matthew Henry

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