A Tender Plant

O. T. #1675  "A Tender Plant"
April 24, 2020
Isaiah 53-Part 2
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.  (verse 2)

LET IT GLOW

A couple of years ago, the electric company came down our country road and chopped down trees that were located under the electric lines. (This was done to prevent any lines breaking under the weight of ice.) Well, this included a peach tree across from our yard. I don't mind telling you that I was upset. However, a small tree has grown back. I didn't pay any attention to it when it was a sprout. This spring that tree had the most beautiful pink blossoms on it. Then I saw it had returned. I hope those men do not return and do the same thing. I doubt they will, since a peach tree does not grow as tall as an oak tree.

As we have already mentioned, this chapter is speaking of the Servant Messiah, Jesus Christ. He was unrecognized by the world, but His Father kept close watch of His Son. Since Jesus was born in the little town of Bethlehem and grew up in a despised town of Nazareth in a lowly carpenter's family. Such humble beginnings. He didn't wear any spectacular emblems of royalty, revealing His identity to the discerning eye of faith. Jesus looked like an ordinary, common man, yet He was divine.

How was the Savior described by Isaiah?

• a tender plant (a sucker; hence a twig (of a tree felled and sprouting);
• a root (bottom; deep; heel) out of a dry ground;
• no form (figure or appearance; favored; beautiful)  nor comeliness (magnificence, ornament or splendor beauty, glory, honor, majesty;
• when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.

Isaiah 11:1 NLT says, Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot-yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.

I tend to think Jesus grew up as a normal boy, yet He knew in the Temple that He must be about His Father's business.  (The mother of Jesus knew He was the Son of God, even before His birth. I think she observed His life as a sinless boy, too.) At age 12, the Jewish boy goes through a special and unique ceremony recognizing him as a man. (We got to observe a couple of them while in Jerusalem.)

Jesus was not a great tree, but a shoot and a tender plant, and just a sprout, yet sprang up out of the kingly line of Israel at a time when it was least expected. As we have read about the sins of David and Solomon, as well as those kings not dedicated to God, we might think their line should have been cut down forever. Although the potential of producing a messianic king is thought to be dried up, it didn't. Even though God had not spoken for 400 years to His people, He still had a plan. God keeps His promises and covenants. He does not forsake His beloved people.


LET IT GROW

In their devotional book, Experiencing God Day-By-Day, Henry and Richard Blackaby say it this way:

The coming of Jesus was like a tender plant in the midst of a parched ground. Parched ground offers little hope for survival; it is dry and too hardened to allow most plants to penetrate its crust. Ye Jesus was prophesied as a tender plant that would break through the hostile soil and overcome the dry and lifeless environment in order to bring life. So hostile had they become to the truth that when God's Son came to the, they killed Him. Nevertheless, despite the enmity of the people, Jesus brought life to all who believed in Him. 

This same Jesus has the ability to bring life to anyone, society, or culture. No matter how hard they have become to the gospel, He can still do it. He can change a bitter heart of a calloused sinner and give them new life. Like a tiny mustard seed, faith can grow strong. Let's keep praying for those we know need Jesus as their Savior.

What will you do with a man called Jesus?

LET IT GO

Use me to love people to Jesus.
Change cold and unresponsive hearts, which only You can do, Jesus.
Create spiritual needs in us.