For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. (Isaiah 53:2 NASB)
Do you ever struggle to fully comprehend the ways God works? I know I sure do. Take our verse for today and what it says about the Savior of the world. I wonder if I will ever or am even capable of appreciating in full what is known as the humiliation of Christ (His conception to His burial); in understanding that God Himself exposed Himself to it all.
He grew up like a tender shoot…a root out of parched ground. This vulnerability about Jesus makes it difficult to see Him as the Christ. I must remember this was intentionally predetermined by God who had foreknowledge of what this vulnerability would bring His one and only Son (Acts 2:23). Oh the things that lie ahead for His Son who was intentionally left vulnerable to man the sinner and what he is capable of perpetrating.
If Jesus were to have come into today’s world, someone would suggest He hire a personal manager to groom a proper image of a conqueror/leader before the public. God however would have none of that. His Savior-King would overcome by grace through faith in the hearts of His subjects, not by force.
The question has already been asked, ‘Who has believed our message?’ While my hindsight would be biased to judge the Pharisees of Jesus’ day for not recognizing Jesus as the Christ, I can appreciate why they missed identifying Him. God chose that the means by which He would come and the manner by which He would work as Savior, could only be recognized by faith. He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
I am reminded today, to recognize the simplicity of Jesus and the commonality of His ways. This is because He was truly man…God in the flesh. His work in and through the church should be the same.
Lord, may I and may Your church be of Your same character, vulnerability and commonality that any appeal before men would be upon You the now glorified Savior and not upon us.
