Verses for Vessels
Easter Lights 2...
"He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." - Isaiah 53:2 NIV
Still on the suffering Prince,
A Paradox?...
Today we pause to ponder this verse about his nurture and his appearance to men. When one considers the words of this verse, it could almost appear to be a paradox when taken as a whole. A paradox is a statement that may seem contradictory in itself, but still true when considered. He grew up before him, it says, as a tender shoot, like a root out of dry ground. Imagine a sun scorched earth yielding a tender shoot, what could be more attractive, refreshing, hopeful, and even, beautiful to behold, than such a sight. It speaks of renewal. It speaks of replenishing after a drought or famine. It speaks of what can be, which is now becoming. To a farmer, or a land owner, or any survivors of draught, surely this must be a most desirable and welcome sight! Ahh!.... after the blight, after the years of languishing, after the season of great hardness and difficulty, behold, a tender shoot appears! Yes!!? But No. Not quite so. The verse continues by declaring, more or less, that this same tender shoot, had no desirable beauty nor majesty. Now that to me is a paradox.
As appears...
So why, if we may ask, has such a thing happened? The tender shoot is still the appearing one. The tender shoot is still the manifest one. Yet in his appearance, and by reason of his appearance, we fail to see his majesty and his beauty. Is it our eyes or is he playing duplicity? The passage does not suggest that he changed, no, not at all; Only that we, from our observation and assessment of his appearance and form, found no desire for such a One. Assuredly, we would be enthralled by the tender shoot, inspired by his resilience, his breaking through dry earth, his birthing a new beginning, if that was what we all could see. It is who he is. It is his essence. But he chose a form of appearance that would not be quite as inspiring nor commanding any reverence and awe. He chose to present himself in simple wrappings of normal social, economic and religious outlook. Nothing fancy. Nothing glamorous.
Christ, Jesus...
Christ our tender shoot and Jesus son of Joseph and Mary. Christ our redeemer, formed as Jesus the Carpenter's son. Christ our sinless saviour, parades as the homeless rabbi; a so called rabble rouser, great with words but weak with the authorities and accused of blasphemy and sedition- the worst of religious and political sins. Christ our King, unveiled as a willing feet-washing servant, who had to borrow money from a fish to pay his tax. Christ our resurrection and life, becomes Jesus the bruised battered and crucified, who would weakly plead for water to quench his thirst on the cross; and die a most ignoble death of shame and disrepute. Of course, such is not the appearance that any of us would heartily embrace. This is not the majesty that we heard spoken of him. How could the Prince of Peace be at war with his own people? How could the Son of God be subject to the councils of the sons of men? Indeed, it's a paradox....
The Great difficulty...
Today's passage throws some light on the challenge before everyone who hears the gospel. There is immediately a need to resolve the paradox or declare him untrue. God promised a saviour in Christ, but the ways and means by which we encounter him would often baffle and perplex the human soul. When we hear the Word of God, it exposes the great difficulties, and struggles, that anyone who chooses to believe would face throughout our earthly journey. While on earth it would almost appear as though Jesus was deliberately throwing people off his course by repeatedly advocating hard sayings and difficult positions of righteousness. 'If any man must follow me, let him deny himself and take up their cross daily 1. Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me 2. Whoever does not believe in me is condemned already 3. If your eyes cause you to sin , gauge it out 4. Blessed are you when people insult you and revile you and lie against you for my sake 5. The Son of man must suffer and die 6. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other' 7. Surely, these 'forms' are by no means desirable to any mortal flesh. Yet they are the form of the tender shoot.
The book of Philippians paints a clearer picture of this tender shoot and his chosen form of appearance:
'Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!' - Phil 2:6-8
I wonder how many are initially drawn to Christ, to his glory, his miraculous power, but struggle to follow Jesus, the man of Galilee in his humanity and selfless death. We all would want his glory. None would loathe his fresh springs of inspiration. All would welcome his resurrection. But these, apparently, are only made available to those who would embrace his appearance as well. For indeed he suffered, and left us an example that we should suffer with him 8 -not very desirable. The tender shoot, would always come among us in forms and appearances that at first, can trouble our experiences and our hearts. This is the nature of the suffering Prince.
A messy invitation...
As we continue to make preparations for Easter, let us reflect on the tender shoot, who without earthly sword, or political might, pierced his way through the sun scorched earthly system and still remained tender. If you are yet to believe, he has left us all with no doubt about his intentions through his actions at the Cross. He was sent to save us from sin and death. He died on that Cross for all of us. Yet he invites us, in his unseemly form: clothe in tattered robes, sunken eyes, bleeding gums, swollen lips, bruised and battered back, aching sides, ruined earthly reputation (you'll be amazed at the things Jesus has been blamed for in our world even today), and death. He invites us to come to him and be saved by faith in him- the tender shoot that births renewal and strength. He invites you today...
Will you come to the tender shoot? Will you stay with him, in spite of his form.
PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I humbly come before you today. You are the King of glory, yet your paths among us can sometimes be dusty and bruising. Today, I thank you for reminding me that your appearance may not always be desirable, but your substance is forever pleasing. Help me to still see your beauty and majesty, through every storm I may face. Help me not to turn away from difficult moments with you. Strengthen me to bear my cross with faith and grace in my heart, because you are my tender shoot. In Jesus name, amen.
References: (NIV)
.1).Luke 9:23 .2).Matthew 10:37 .3).John 3:18 .4).Matthew 18:9 .5).Matthew 5:11 .6). Mark 8:31 .7). Matthew 5:39 .8). 1Peter 2:21