For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isaiah paints a dry and desolate landscape. A twig breaks out of the parched earth; a small sucker climbs heavenward. A living vine where it is least expected. The picture shows the promised Messiah will be born in David lineage. As Isaiah writes, the days of David’s sons on the throne are numbered. At the dawn of the New Testament, from all outward appearances, the line is lifeless, dry ground. However, the appearance is deceiving. God’s promises will not fail. From the dry ground will grow the Tender Plant, the Righteous branch from Jesse’s root, son of David.
When Christ came, he was not born in a palace but a manger. He was not welcomed by royalty but persecuted. The Herod did not honor the birth of Christ but tried to end his life. Christ was born in poverty, secluded in youth, reared in an infamous town. Despite images on painted canvas, Jesus face did not glow as he walked on the Earth, and a halo did not adorn his brow. He looked like an ordinary man. Nothing in his features denoted glory.
“And when we shall see him.” Jesus came and lived in Israel. Jesus healed, preached, ate, and drank in the presence of Israel. And they saw him. Our celebrity culture gets excited when a famous person is around. Out come the phones and the selfies and posts to prove we were in the presence of the rich and famous. Israel did not see a famous poet, or a renowned artist, but the Christ. They looked upon his face and they saw no beauty. God’s people looked upon the Lord of glory, whom the Father was well pleased, and saw no beauty in him. In the flesh, there was nothing any different than any other man in the region. The priests needed Judas to point out which man was Christ when he betrayed him.
Oh, but how lovely is the Lord of glory! He beautiful in his holiness. He is glorious in his perfection. He is majestic in his power. Do you see beauty in Christ? Do you see anything in the Lord to desire him? Years ago, I saw nothing desirable in Christ. He was a man in a book, but as far as having any personal feelings toward him? No, a stranger more than anything else. But when God showed me my sinfulness, and I saw the darkness of my heart and the filth of my sin, I beheld the Lord Jesus, nailed to the cross for my sins, and I saw all the desire of my heart. No longer a stranger, but a Saviour. No longer just a man, but the Godman. No longer a man in the book, but the Word of God incarnate.
