“Who has believed what he has heard from us?” – Isaiah 53:1a
Hard to Believe
What a gold mine is Isaiah chapter 53. With every shovel we turn over more treasure is exposed. In this chapter, Isaiah gives us a portrait of a Suffering Servant. A servant we can observe, but would not embrace with our own reasoning. Who could have imagined a Messiah that would lead as a servant? Or one with common parents? How about a Messiah with no “special” physical attributes? Who would have imagined a Messiah that would be despised and rejected by men? Or one of sorrows and acquainted with grief? A Messiah that men would despise and hide their faces from? Only God.
“Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.” – Isaiah 53:1-3
Too Familiar?
Familiarity can be a dangerous thing. How many blessings are missed or joys deprived because of it? Jesus was a known entity. People knew His parents and siblings. They watched Him grow up. They saw Him when He was sick, or when He fell down. “He grew up before them like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground.” When our eyes have seen this, how can we believe what we have heard? “Is this not the carpenter’s son?” Nice guy perhaps. Messiah, no way! Messiah, God’s way!!
This young plant growing out of dry ground is actually the Holy Seed (Isaiah 6:13) and Root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:10). He is the vine with whom we are to abide. His parents are not “common”. Our suffering Servant is actually the Son of God through the Holy Spirit. He is our source of life. To those who believe, our source of abundant life. May we strive to learn more about Him without becoming too “familiar”. May we work over His word with pick and shovel, mining the blessings and joys He has “buried” for us to lavish in.
Foolish Yardsticks
If familiarity can be dangerous, physical “yardsticks” can be deadly. How many feelings have been hurt or spirits crushed by these measurements of worth? Too big. Too small. Too fat. Too skinny. Too short. Too ugly. Who ever came up with these? Not God. “He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.” No form? No beauty? The yardsticks reveal that we are too shallow. God has a better way of measuring worth.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him.” “You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.” “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works.” Wonderful are your works!!! No mention of appearance or physical attributes and their association with worth. Good time to throw away the shallow yardsticks.
Despised & Rejected
“He was despised and rejected by men.” Sad commentary. Logical conclusion. Proof that the combination of fallen man’s emotions, mind, and will cannot be trusted. Isaiah continually turns up gold, the people only see dust. Too often men can only see what they are looking for. When they don’t like what they see, they turn their faces.
The human mind will never believe using rational. Divine revelation is necessary. Only the remnant will see Holy Seed while the world sees a root out of dry ground. Only His true Brothers and Sisters will seek His face and find beauty, while the lost will hide their faces and despise Him. His disciples are willing to walk away from their boats and tax booths to follow Him. They esteem Him of greater worth than family relationships and even life itself. The world esteems Him not.
God sent a suffering servant. Isaiah exposed His majesty. Believing what we have heard is more precious than gold.
“This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” – Matthew 17:5