Who are the people who attract you?  Are they ones who have a good reputation, who are friendly toward you, who like you?  What people ‘turn off’ your desire to know them better?  Perhaps it is body odor, coarse language, a physical disability or an arrogant attitude.

As Jesus was on that route to Golgotha, beaten, whipped, scourged to the point of being repulsive, even unrecognizable…would you have been one of those in the crowds lining the narrow streets who averted your eyes?  How would you have looked at Jesus?

I do not think that many people looking on this Man at that time would have been attracted to Him or have any desire for Him to be a friend.

Would you have followed to watch Him nailed to a cross and lifted high to die?

This very time was prophesied by Isaiah in the Old Testament.

(NASB) Isaiah 53:2b-3 “He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.”
3 He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”

Even today, we do not value Jesus and what He did in His death, burial and resurrection for us.  Jesus, the Messiah is despised…today.  Jesus, the Messiah is forsaken…today.  He is not valued or worshiped as Savior, the Sacrificial Lamb of God.

Messiah…Despised, Forsaken for you.

How do you look on the Messiah?

Is He your strength and song?

Has He become your salvation?

The hope of all followers of Christ:
(NASB) Isaiah 12:2 “Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For the LORD GOD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.”