Ever Wonder What Jesus Looked Like?

I want to share a precious story with you today....I hope it brings joy to your heart, as it has to mine.

But first...a little background....

Several years ago, our next door neighbors put their house up for sale. They were great neighbors, and we were sorry to see them go. But, from the minute that they put the sign in the yard, we started praying that God would send a family with a young boy, close to Caedmon's age, who could be a true friend for him. 

We prayed for a family who knew and loved the Lord. You see, for many years, our neighborhood had been a mission field. I suppose it's that way for all of us, really. It's not that we were hoping to abandon God's purpose for us here, it's just that we longed to have other believers on our street, whom we could have fellowship with...and we really wanted a friend for Caedmon who would be a heart friend, as David and Jonathan were. 

Well, it took months for the house to sell, but it finally did. I'll never forget the night that Shane came home and boasted like a peacock, "Our new neighbors have arrived...and I saw their van....it has a Christian fish symbol on it!"

I kid you not when I tell you that at that very moment, I looked like a bag lady who hadn't bathed in 3 weeks. I had my favorite baseball cap on, and I think you could have oiled your car with my hair! I was in my "best" sweats, and probably smelled like I'd been deep sea fishing for 3 days, but I didn't let any of that stop me...I RUSHED past Shane and out the front door, and ran next door to "welcome" my new neighbors. 

(They were likely wishing I hadn't!)  :)

It was so great to meet them, and to find out that GOD HAD ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS!

They have a son who is just a little older than Caedmon, and in no time the two of them became the best of friends!

:) His name is Jonathan, and he is the most wonderful friend to Caedmon! The two of them spend hours together, and love each other like brothers.

Oh, I forgot to tell you what I prayed for, for me! I asked the Lord for an "iced tea drinking, drop in friend"...and Jonathan's mother is just that to me. She is a friend who has seen me at my very worst, and yet loves me like I'm always at my best. I can share anything in the world with her, and know that she will keep it to herself. She is truly one of the dearest friends I've ever had. 

I love her dearly, and thank God for her often. Her name is Peggy, but I call her Peggy Sue. :)

OK...so here's where all of this background is leading...

Jonathan is here today. He came to see if Caedmon could play and I said, "Oh, honey. He's cleaning his room most of the day today."

Jonathan quickly responded, "Well, I can help him!" 

So in he came. :)

A few minutes ago, I heard Jonathan calling me...."Miss Jesica. Miss Jesica....Miss Jesica..." 

He was quite insistent. I could tell he had something of utmost importance to talk with me about.

I told him I was in my office, and in he came. I could never have expected what he would say to me!

"Um, when Jesus was a baby, was He ever cross-eyed?"

I couldn't help myself...I just burst out laughing!

When I finally got myself together, I asked, "Why do you ask that?"

So he ran out of the office and went into Caedmon's room, and came back with the baby Jesus from Caedmon's nativity set. 

Please, no comments. Now you know why they are cleaning their rooms today...it's March, for goodness sakes, and their creches are still in their rooms!

"See Miss Jesica. He's cross-eyed. Both of them..Caedmon's and Brennan's...they're both cross-eyed."

I didn't take the time to tell him that this baby Jesus was likely manufactured in China, in some assembly room, and that they probably didn't take much time to measure the distance between his eyeballs. 

Instead, I said, "You know, Jonathan. I really don't know if He was cross-eyed. I do know that the Scripture tells us that He wasn't very handsome, but I don't know if he was cross-eyed." 

"Why wasn't he handsome?", he asked.

"Well, I think maybe it was because He didn't come to Earth for people to be drawn to His looks. He came to save people from their sins. Maybe if He'd been really handsome, they would have been attracted to Him for the wrong reasons."

And, since the door of conversation was open, I added, "And he wasn't white, like this baby Jesus is. Did you know that?"

"Hmmmmm?"

"He was likely more brown. He came from the middle east, and people there have darker skin than you and I do. So, it's doubtful that Jesus was white like we are."

He was so cute...he just pondered all that I'd told him for a few minutes, and then said, "Um, OK..." and out he ran, content as a he could be. All was now well with his soul, or so it seemed. :)

When we all sit down for a snack in a bit, I'm going to read this passage of Scripture to the kids. 

After all, I don't want him to believe all of this because I said it.....I want him to hear it for himself, from God's Word. 

This is such an amazing passage of Scripture...I pray it teaches you something new today, about the Savior of the World.

Isa 53:1	Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
Isa 53:2	For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no {stately} form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
Isa 53:3	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.
Isa 53:4	Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5	But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being {fell} upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
Isa 53:6	All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
Isa 53:7	He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.
Isa 53:8	By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke {was due?}
Isa 53:9	His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
Isa 53:10	But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting {Him} to grief; If He would render Himself {as} a guilt offering, He will see {His} offspring, He will prolong {His} days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
Isa 53:11	As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see {it and} be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.
Isa 53:12	Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors. Blue Letter Bible. "Isaiah 53 - New American Standard Bible." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 16 Mar 2009.  < b="Isa&c="53&t="NASB">