The Beauty of Jesus - Part One

Occasionally a book in my library will stand out and I’ll take it from the shelf and read. Today I was drawn to an old book given to me which was once in another pastor’s library, Like Christ, by Andrew Murray. A South African of Scottish-Dutch heritage, Murray lived from 1828-1917, wrote prolifically and authored a small library of more than 240 books from which the church still learns.

The core lesson of Like Christ is taken from 1 John. In John’s discourse on the centrality of love in Jesus’ disciples, the Authorized Version says, “because as he is, so are we in this world.” (4:17) Andrew Murray considered missionary work the chief activity of the church. It is interesting that in the small volume Murray tied behavior inseparably to faith.

The Apostle Paul adds to the discussion, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” (Romans 8:28-29) The “good” God works is for the expressed purpose of forming us into the likeness of Jesus.

An old Gospel song is echoing in my spirit this morning. It says:

“Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me;
All His wonderful passion and purity;
Oh, Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine;
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.”

Written by a second generation Salvation Army officer, Albert Orsborn, the song is part of the church music literature that formed my life. I am familiar with only a single verse, additional verses bring depth of Orsborn’s insight.

"When your burden is heavy and hard to bear,
When your neighbors refuse all your load to share,
When you’re feeling so blue,
Don’t know just what to do,
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you."

"When somebody has been so unkind to you,
Some word spoken that pierces you through and through,
Think how He was beguiled, Spat upon and reviled;
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you."

Fewer words may be needed if the likeness of Jesus were more distinctly focused in us.