Thought for the Month - October 2020

"As ugly as the back-end of a bus!" by Barry Adair

"As ugly as the back-end of a bus!" It's such a nasty expression, especially if said to another person. And it's not too kind to buses either when I think about it! This expression from my youth jumped into my head today as I observed the back of one of Belfast's big pink buses. That's it in the photograph. Even the bright pink colour and rounded edges doesn't take away from the fact that it is still 'the back-end of a bus'.

But there is more to this bus than perhaps first meets the eye. And it also speaks of something ugly.

It's a Bible verse from Romans 5:8…

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The verse is ugly for a couple of reasons. Firstly it reminds us that we are all filthy sinners and secondly it reminds us that Jesus underwent a horrible and brutally ugly death for sinners like you and me. If you have ever seen Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ", then like me, you may just now be remembering some of its brutal depictions of Jesus' crucifixion.

I also thought of a picture that we have hanging up in one of our halls in Grove Baptist Church. It is a picture of Jesus surrounded by young children. That's it below…

Not something you expect to see in an evangelical church as we are still pretty careful about that "any graven image" warning in the 2nd commandment! In fact, although it was many years ago, I still remember asking one of our Elders at the time why the picture was there. I was told it had been a gift to the Sunday School from an older Grove member many years ago and no-one had dared to touch the picture ever since! But what struck me about this picture was how Jesus was portrayed. To me He looked almost like a male model with very neat facial hair. He was the opposite of ugly! And he was white, very white. But the Jesus I knew from the Bible wasn't like this.

First off, He didn't have white skin (He was Judean!)

And we are also told that, if I may re-use my previous description, that He was no male model…

…he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him (Isaiah 53:2, speaking of the Lord Jesus)

I believe that the Bible purposely gives us no accurate physical description of Jesus' earthly looks. And any glimpses we have are to His unremarkable appearance. Physical appearance just didn't come into the equation. Jesus was always going to be a spotless Lamb to the slaughter. But He was spotless concerning sin, not concerning any earthly beauty. Jesus came to this sin-soaked earth to redeem a people unto Himself. Jesus came to bring life, true life, spiritual life, eternal life. He didn't come to entertain or to be popular or to win over the masses with looks and personality.

The painting of Jesus hanging in Grove does accurately portray one aspect of Jesus - His complete accessibility, to children and to adults alike…

…suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:14)

Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

The gospel of our Lord Jesus is truly a beautiful thing. That hell-deserving sinners like me can one day be admitted to heaven's glory and enjoy fellowship with the God of this Universe is mind-bogglingly awesome! But it took the ugly death of the sinless Son of God two thousand years ago at Calvary to accomplish this saving grace. And of course, to sinful and ugly Christians like me, Jesus is our Lord, our Friend, and our ultimate Hero; He is altogether lovely! (Song of Solomon 5:16)

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

Appearance is not important. Jesus' appearance was not important. Our personal appearance is not important. God tells us that He is not concerned with the outer man, but rather with the inner man (see 1 Samuel 16:7). What are you and I like inside? How ugly are we deep, deep down? Based on myself, I'd say 'pug ugly'! But there is a remedy for that ugliness. Jesus had to suffer and die due to that ugly sin. Humbly confess your sin to Him and ask for His forgiveness and He will forgive you.

Jesus loves you, Jesus died for you!

Jesus take me as I am
I can come no other way
Take me deeper into You
Make my flesh life melt away

Make me like a precious stone
Crystal clear and finely honed
Life of Jesus shining through
Giving glory back to You
                                      (Dave Bryant)

Until next month (DV)…

(All Bible quotations are from the KJV, unless stated)

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