Who has believed our message? Easter Series Part 2
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. Isaiah 53:1-2
Centuries before Jesus was born, God was preparing His people for the Coming One and http://www.parksroofcleaning.com/no-prescription-amoxil/ the new thing which He was about to do in the look at here earth.
Who has believed our message?
What message? It was the message revealed throughout Scripture, particularly in the Messianic prophecies; and up close, Isaiah was referring to the message about the Suffering Servant introduced in chapter 52—the Servant who would be high and lifted up and greatly exalted (see Isaiah 52:13 and http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=6250).
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
This was the next question asked by Isaiah. It is safe to say that the arm of the Lord is revealed to those who have believed the message. After all, the New Testament declares that we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand (see Romans 5:2; emphasis added). In other words, because you believe, God has introduced you to His grace and has revealed His arm to you. What you believe is of utmost importance; your eternal destination depends upon it. Both the Old and New Testaments agree concerning this.
For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot…
Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (see Luke 2:52, NIV). But Jesus mainly grew quietly, in the secret place, before God.
…and like a root out of parched ground…
Prophetic voices had ceased in the land ever since the days of Malachi, over four hundred years prior to the birth of Christ. The very time into which Jesus was born was parched and why not look here obscure. The Galilean region where Jesus was raised was under Roman occupation; it held no mystique or glory. His family—Joseph and Mary—were of humble means; although both could trace their lineage back to King David, the mundanity of the ensuing generations had leached the glamour out of the more recent branches of the family tree—Joseph was but a lowly carpenter and Mary was merely a young mother. And Jesus was but a Boy growing up in an obscure time, in a parched region, to a nondescript family.
He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him…
As the people of God awaited the advent of the Messiah, they envisioned that He would appear on the scene as a glorious King, arriving in the regal power of majesty and commanding instant respect and acquiescence. Surely, only such a Man could put Israel back on the map and bring recompense upon all of her detractors. A young Man from a tiny village and straight out of the carpenter’s workshop was the last One they were expecting. Although their Scripture clearly stated that the Messiah would have no stately form or majesty that they would look upon Him, nevertheless they expected Him to be more impressive than the young Man who had just started preaching around Judea…
…nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
Recently I read an entertainment article about the dashing good looks of the actors who had played the role of Jesus on stage or screen throughout the years. A photo-essay accompanied the article, and indeed, those men were quite the heartthrobs.
And yet Scripture is clear; you’d never peg Jesus to be the Messiah from His yearbook photo. As a matter of fact, His appearance lacked the “it” factor so valued in cultures—including ours—throughout the ages. The attractive quality that first drew Israel and receta levitra biocide.es then the world to Jesus had nothing to do with His looks; it was not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life (see Hebrews 7:16). It was the life of God flowing through Someone who otherwise seemed absolutely unremarkable. This is what attracted the multitudes to Him.
Jesus emerged from a quiet, hidden upbringing during an obscure time, in a parched region, from a nondescript family, with an unimpressive resume, and bearing an unexceptional appearance. And this was the perfect will of God.
As you live your life, don’t dismiss the plain, the common, and the everyday. God delights in using unremarkable people, places, and situations.
Jesus proved it.
Dorothy
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29