He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.  He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. 

Isaiah 3:2-3 (Berean Study Bible)

Okay, I know, I know, no baby is ugly, at least not to its mother, but some babies are obviously more attractive than others. Reading this passage in the book of Isaiah, where he describes the Messiah to come, I wondered why in every representation of Jesus Christ, from medieval paintings to modern films, we see an obviously handsome man.

Could it be that our knowledge of the life and character of this man colors our every thought of Him and it won’t allow us to think of Him as less than beautiful?

I wonder how our interactions with those around us would change if we were to judge each other based upon life and character, rather than external appearance. And how would we change our own behavior if we knew we were only being judged the same way? Would we spend less time and money on fashions and polishing our looks and more on building our character into the closest copy of Christ possible?

As you gaze upon the babe in the manger this season, look past the infant’s chubby cheeks to the heart within and His loving sacrifice to come.