March 29, 2025
by Pastor Chuck SwindollScriptures: Isaiah 53:2
What did Christ look like to the men, women, and children who met Him? To be completely honest, probably not much like the images we see in stained-glass windows.
My servant grew up in the LORD's presence like a tender green shoot,
like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic
about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. —Isaiah 53:2 (NLT)
What did Christ look like to the men, women, and children who met Him? To
be completely honest, probably not much like the images we see in
stained-glass windows.
From clues in Scripture, His physical appearance was not impressive. He
wasn't tall, dark, and handsome. As the prophet foretold, the coming
Anointed One had no "appearance that we should be attracted to Him." He
didn't have pomp or flair—no stately form or majesty.
Instead, "He grew up . . . like a tender green shoot." Fully human, a man
with very real emotions, skin with delicate nerve endings, and tear ducts
that were activated by sadness and grief. He found Himself moved with
compassion and stung by sharp words. Though undiminished Deity, He lived
among us in true humanity.
He appeared "like a root in dry ground." This "dry ground" may refer to the
land of Israel, which was nothing more than dust under a Roman boot when
Christ came to earth. The world hated the Jews then as much of the world
does now. Rome ruled over them with a rod of iron.
The Jewish people wanted a savior—a man on a white horse to deliver
them from their oppressors. But they did not want the Savior,
because Jesus was not what they expected, not what they desired; so they despised Him.
Isaiah 53 is a portrait of a crushed, chastened, scourged individual.
Despite all His power and His unquestioned majesty, we must not picture Him
as some kind of superhero. He was, truly, the Suffering Savior. Crushed and
broken and bleeding, He pursued His God-ordained mission when He went to
the cross for us.
No wound? No scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And, pierced are the feet that follow Me;
But thine are whole: can he have followed far
Who has no wound, no scar?
—AMY CARMICHAEL