He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. – Isaiah 53:2 (NIV)
I love the quintessential ‘90s Home Alone movies and still watch the original almost every year. The sequel, Home Alone 2, isn’t quite as good, but I love the theme in it that we find throughout scripture.
STUCK IN THE RIGHT PLACE
Kevin gets on the wrong plane and finds himself alone at Christmastime (again), but this time he is on his own in New York City. One night, as he shares a snack with some pigeons in Central Park, more and more birds surround him. Suddenly, a homeless woman appears covered in birds. (We will call her Bird Lady.) Kevin is terrified and tries to run away, but his foot gets stuck. As she gets closer, Kevin screams in fear. But she gently grabs his leg and helps get his foot unstuck. Once free, he starts to run off, screaming, but then stops. He realizes the Bird Lady was trying to help him. Maybe his initial impression of her was wrong.
They strike up a conversation and Kevin invites her to go somewhere warm for hot chocolate. This unlikely duo becomes friends, and she ultimately helps him get away from the burglars trying to capture him. Sometimes, some of the best people who come into our lives don’t look how we thought they would.
FLIPPING THE SCRIPT
Jesus could have come in robes of splendor on a chariot as the King of Kings that he is. Wouldn’t that have been an easy route? Like, “Here I am! The one you’ve been waiting for, isn’t it obvious I am God?”
Instead, he chose to come to earth as a helpless baby born among animals in a manger. Isaiah 53 states that his appearance wasn’t even all that noteworthy. He wouldn’t have stood out to us.
Throughout his life, from birth until death, Jesus was always flipping the script on society’s expectations. His disciples were a rag-tag team of teenage boys with no formal rabbinical teaching—many of whom were fishermen. He dined with prostitutes and tax collectors. He touched and healed the unclean who were ostracized by society.
A LOOK AT THE HEART
In the Old Testament, when God sent Samuel to find a king for Israel, he made clear what he was looking for. 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 people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
In Home Alone 2, Kevin ends up making an unexpected, but great friend. This holiday season, ask God to give you eyes to see those who may not look like everyone else, but need to feel seen—just as we all do.
Reflect: Have you ever had an initial impression of someone that was wrong? How can you show love to others who may seem unlovable?
