2024-08-05 “as a tender plant”

Isaiah 53:1  “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.

Even the person of Jesus Christ must be known and believed, not by natural means, but by Spiritual Revelation.  Our Lord made it clear that “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation” (Luke 17:20); and, neither did the King arrive with the great show of majesty and power that we might expect.  “not with observation” means that there is no way to know and recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God and truly God just by His appearance and natural station in life.  You would never expect such an Almighty King to present Himself in such a humble and base manner.  In all appearance, He entered this world “as a tender plant”; as an infant child He appeared vulnerable and totally dependent upon others for His welfare and safety.  “as a tender plant” seems small and insignificant compared to the strong and mighty plants around it, so our Lord entered this world in, seemingly, such a frail and insignificant manner.  Furthermore, “a tender plant” is subject to be incidentally stepped upon and destroyed or eaten by some animal; in like manner, our Lord entered this world appearing to be subject to devastating harm.  Naturally speaking, you would never expect “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (I Timothy 6:15) to arrive in this present world in such a humble, fragile, and insignificant manner.  But, He did so that “in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17)!  Thus, “we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15)!  Furthermore, we lovingly know and worship Him, not because of any carnal grandeur, but because He, Himself has entered our hearts and minds, and has magnificently identified Himself to us!