Fairest Lord Jesus

“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.

“Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed…

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted…
By oppression and judgment he was taken away.

“Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
    he has put him to grief.” Isaiah 53:3-5,7,8,10

Humanly speaking, He had no beauty. Heavenly speaking, He was the the bright morning star, the beloved Son with whom God the Father was well-pleased. Humanly speaking, He had no majesty. Heavenly speaking, He reigns as regal King of kings and Lord of lords. Humanly speaking, nothing about Him was fair. Heavenly speaking, He was and is the true and righteous Judge. (Matthew 3:17; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; 19:16; 22:16)

Often what is ugliest in the world’s eyes is fairest in the Lord’s. It takes spiritual sight and a worshipful mindset to see and understand things God’s way. Jesus, man of sorrows, is indeed Prince of peace. Meditating on Christ Jesus lifts our sights about all else, helps us see His glory, and holds Him in the high place He belongs.

“Fairest Lord Jesus, 
ruler of all nature, 
O thou of God and man the Son, 
Thee will I cherish, 
Thee will I honor, 
thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.

How am I cherishing my Lord this day? Does He have first place in my affection?

Fair are the meadows, 
fairer still the woodlands, 
robed in the blooming garb of spring: 
Jesus is fairer, 
Jesus is purer 
who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Can we grasp HIs promise of one-day no more sorrow? What heartache can we bring to Jesus today for Him to turn to song? (Revelation 21:4)

Fair is the sunshine, 
fairer still the moonlight, 
and all the twinkling starry host: 
Jesus shines brighter, 
Jesus shines purer 
than all the angels heaven can boast.

What shame, confusion, or doubts will we bring into Jesus’s light? (John 8:12; 1 John 1:5)

All fairest beauty, 
Heavenly and earthly 
Wondrously Jesus is found in Thee 
None can be nearer, 
fairer or dearer, 
Than Thou my Savior are to me.

How and when are we savoring Jesus? How does the knowledge of how deeply we are loved compel us to share Him with others? (Isaiah 43:4)

Beautiful Savior! 
Lord of all the nations! 
Son of God and Son of Man! 
Glory and honor, 
praise, adoration, 
now and forevermore be thine.” ~Anonymous, or Münster Gesangbuch (1677)

Kingdoms and tribes strut and war, claiming rights and supremacy, refusing reconciliation. Relationships strain and affection wanes, the result of battling emotions. But Jesus rules all nations. With whom do we need conciliation? What territories of personal desire need submission to the Lord’s rule, alignment, authority, and purity? (Proverbs 16:1; 21:1; Daniel 2:21)

How beautifully we can see when through the lens of Jesus!

Lord Jesus, keep me worshipping You as my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.