Was Jesus the Beast and His Bride to Be..Beauty?

Most pictures of Jesus have this fair complexion with blue eyes.  Do we really think that Jesus was European?  Actually, when Jesus comes back to earth his eyes are going to be like flames of fire and it says his hair is white as wool.

His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. Rev. 1:14

It says in the Bible that God sent his son Jesus and nothing in his appearance would cause us to desire him.  It’s because God did not want us to focus on the outside of the man, it was the message, and it was not just the man Christ Jesus, he was God in the flesh sent to bear the penalty for our sins. It says although we knew Jesus Christ after the flesh we are to know him that way no more or any man after the flesh for that matter!

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. Isaiah 53:2

Now therefore, we do not know a person by the body, and if we have known The Messiah in the body, from now on we do not even know him so. 2 Cor 5:16

It’s really sort of amazing, because I’ve had a couple dreams about my deceased mother, but I never recognized her body, it was her voice and her spirit being that I knew in my dream it was my mother and those two dreams I had about my mother were prophetic words that God spoke to me out of them.

Is beauty skin deep?

Our society places such an emphasis on physical looks for certain careers like modeling, acting and in the past, airline stewards.  Basically, sex sells in our society, especially pornography.  I dated a guy who worked for an insurance company when I was 36 years old and he told me that when they wanted to sell their $10K software packages, they put a pretty woman out to sell the packages to men at fairs---to get a man's attention.

Peter talked about how women are to focus on the “inward man” not the outside person ---speaking to a woman's heart.  How can a woman have a man’s heart?  It’s because we are to put on the mind of Christ.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. But let it be the hidden man (inner self) of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 1 Peter 3:3-4

I’ve heard a lot of messages on favor. I’ve been going around and thanking God I have favor like Joseph and Jesus had favor, but what I found out I had favor with the wrong people.  Like Joseph, I had married men interested in me like Potiphar’s wife was interested in Joseph.

There is something higher than having favor with people in life and that is favor with God.  Mary, Jesus mother, found favor above all women in her generation.  It may take favor with people to spread the gospel and open doors, but I want #1 favor with God.  That is what the scripture says, That favor (or charm) is deceitful, but a woman who has reverence/respect for God, she will be praised.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. Luke 1:30

It also says when a man finds a wife he finds favor of God – notice it does not say find a live-in companion!

He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. Proverbs 8:22

There is a favor in taking “heed” to God’s word in our lives.  Jesus said if we are his disciples than we will continue to abide in His word, and it says to “let” the word of Christ dwell in us richly.

Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.  Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. Proverbs 8:34-35

Jesus therefore said to those Jews which had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; John 8:31

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

We tend to focus a lot on physical appearances in life. We don’t see as God sees do we?   Jacob was very attracted to Rachel in the Bible, he even worked 14 years for her.

Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was lovely in form, and beautiful. Genesis 29:17

Rachel stole her father’s idols. It makes one wonder if Leah was actually the more spiritual woman.   (When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father's household gods. Genesis 31:19)

“Leah, although she was neglected by Jacob and despised by Rachel, had a great purpose in God’s plan. The two greatest tribes came from Leah, not Rachel: Levi (the priestly tribe) and Judah (the royal tribe). And most importantly, the Messiah came from Leah, the uglier sister, who was neglected and despised, but learned to look to the Lord and praise Him.   She called his name Judah: The fourth son born to Jacob, again through Leah, is named Judah meaning, “praise.” Apparently, Leah has stopped naming her children to reflect the pain and longing in her heart. Now she focuses on God and can praise Him.”

Genesis 29:35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

Man looks at the outward appearance and judges, but God looks at the heart: But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7