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we did not esteem him Is53:3-5
Jesus bore our grief and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed him
stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. Yet he was wounded
for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. Not
only did Jesus taken on his body the sin of the world, not only did he
endure great suffering and hardship, he is misconstrued.
Rather than people appreciating the pain and sorrow, it becomes the
very reason they refuse to accept him. They see Jesus as
somewhat of a pitiable person, not realizing it is his very misfortune
which is his greatest feat. They dismiss the Christ rather
than embrace him because according to the world’s value system, Jesus
is weak and brutalized. It is only when a person is
confronted by his own sin and weakness, only when he is faced with his
own personal predicament does he entertain the notion that Jesus
suffered crucifixion to save his soul. It is only when there
is no way out but receiving the Christ do they receive salvation and
the forgiveness of sin. The paradox, the extent to which
Jesus suffered for us and our misinterpretation of the event, is only
grasped when one is born again. It is only then do we see
Jesus in a different light. It is only when we come to the
end of our rope do we appreciate his bloody sacrifice. Not
only what Jesus did almost incomprehensible to the average unregenerate
soul, he knew that it would be thus interpreted and nobody would come
to the Son unless the Father drew them. What does this mean
to us?
Evangelization must deal with this dilemma in its quest to bring somebody to Christ. The average unregenerate soul has little to no interest in Jesus, the need to be saved, the importance of receiving him to avoid going to hell and receiving his Spirit to come into the Truth and experience the fruit of the Spirit in their lives. They do not appreciate your attempt to upset the apple cart and introduce concepts that require change and conversion. Most average people like a little bit of sin and they take pleasure in it. They do not esteem the life of most Christians as worthy of emulation and they don’t want to entertain the notion that they may be wrong or that Jesus makes a difference in a person’s life. St. Paul, for instance, had the highest intentions and love for Jew and Gentile, yet look how much he suffered and was misconstrued. You must know that the unregenerate soul is in darkness, dead in transgression and sin, and unless the Father opens their eyes, they can not see. Unless your life reflects the Truth which you preach, there is little chance for conversion. We, as Christians, like Jesus are misconstrued by family, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances unless God places a hunger for righteousness, Truth, and salvation in their hearts. One plants seed. One gives water. It is only God that produces the increase. As Christians, this is the obstacle we all face. Some receive the gift of evangelization, but for most of us, we have to plug away and pray for a crack in their armor to see the light of Christ. So don’t be discouraged. Keep at it. Do the work of an evangelist and be at it for God. Amen |