Jesus did not have a physical defect

Some people claim that Jesus had a physical defect. This opinion is based on Isaiah 53

1 Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

BUT, this is regarding Jesus as the Suffering Servant. This is talking about his death and atonement.

As our High Priest, Jesus would have met the Law when it states "None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a blemish may approach to offer the bread of his God. For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or one who has a mutilated face or a limb too long." (Leviticus 21:17-18)

The VISUAL holiness of the High Priest symbolized the spiritual holiness required of us. Jesus was without outward (physical) blemish or inward (spiritual) blemish.

Loving our neighbor Leviticus 19:15, 18

Oh, that our court system, our taxation system, and our daily lives could follow this:
"You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor." (Lev 19:15)


"you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." (Lev 19:18b)

Salvation by ...

In the institution of the Levitical Law, its easy to see why a non-faithful person could read it as "salvation by works"

God said "You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 18:5)

But King David helps to see behind the law: "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (Psalm 51:16-17)

"but the righteous shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4b)

The obedience of the law SHOULD stem from the broken and contrite heart. IF the broken spirit is the source of the obedience, then the person is righteous.

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it — the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:20-22)

"[that I may gain Christ] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith" (Philippians 3:9)

The blood of Christ

I was part of a prayer ministry with some wonderful people. Several people "claimed the blood" over several prayer concerns. That "claiming" sounded to me like an incantation - as if the blood had special properties that could be called on.

"Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." (Hebrews 9:22)

In the establishment of the Day of Atonement, God explains the importance of blood: "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life." (Leviticus 17:11))

If Jesus had just pricked his finger, THAT would not have atoned for my sins.
Jesus had to give his life.

The Day of Atonement

I'm a bit behind in my reading through the Bible this year.
I'm in Deuteronomy and reviewing some thoughts from Leviticus.

There is a progression in "atonement” enactments:

1. one animal for one person - Adam and Eve in the Garden
2. one lamb for one family - the Passover lamb
3. one sacrifice for the nation - “the day of atonement”
4. one sacrifice for the entire world - Jesus Christ - "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
   

The first three are "enactments" because true atonement is SOLELY based upon the work of Christ. The prior three point forward to Jesus' crucifixion.

On the Day of Atonement, two male goats are presented as offerings.

1. One is sacrificed as a sin offering, pointing to Christ's death paying the penalty for our sins.
2. The second goat is called the scapegoat. The High Priest would lay his hand on the goat, to symbolize our sins being transferred, and the goat was led into the wilderness. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12)

You might be a DISPENSATIONALIST if...

You might be a DISPENSATIONALIST if...

1. You think other Christians are anti-Semitic
2. You’ve never read Hebrews
3. You can justify being 2000 years late for an appointment
4. You’re really bad at math
5. When the going gets rough, you’re nowhere to be found
6. You sleep nude so your post-rapture bed is tidy
7. You were born after 1830
8. You use your newspaper for morning devotions
9. You’d rather have been outside Noah’s ark
10. You don't think Satan really noticed the cross
11. You prefer the shadows
12. Always always means always except sometimes
13. You went to Dallas Theological Seminary
14. You prefer the shadows
15. Always always means always except sometimes
16. You went to Dallas Theological Seminary
17. Bad news excites you
18. You feel Scofield's notes were inspired
19. You’ll only be a 2nd class citizen of paradise
20. You think THIS means THAT
21. You think NEAR means FAR
22. You thought about naming your kid Darby
23. You decided it’s too late to have kids
24. You believe the Day of Pentecost refers to the birthday of Dwight Pentecost
25. Your Pastoral Search committee only looks at candidates from DTS (Dallas Theological Seminary)
26. You consider your children to be an "intercalation" in your marriage
27. When people tell you Lewis is their favorite Christian author, you think of "Lewis Sperry Chaffer," not "C.S. Lewis"
28. No matter how many member states the EU adds, you "know" it's the revived Roman Empire with 10 heads
29. You own the entire "Left Behind" series
30. You get your news from Jack Van Impe
31. You’re offended by this list
32. When someone asks for your opinion on Bible versions and you think of
    The John MacArthur Study Bible
    The Ryrie Study Bible
    The Scofield Study Bible
    and not
    The ESV - English Standard Version
    The NIV - New International Version
    The KJV - King James Version
    

Christian Rap

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