“. . .He has no form nor comeliness—and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.”
Isaiah 53:2b
His was/is an inward attraction, not an outward one—and it still is today.
“No form or comeliness.”
What do these words mean in connection with the coming Messiah about Whom Isaiah prophesied in today’s Manna? What is this “form” and “comeliness”?
The Hebrew word “to‘ar” is used for “form” and basically means “outline, figure, appearance, countenance, visage, etc.,” while “hadar” is used for “comeliness” and also means “magnificence, splendor, beauty, majesty, etc.” Simply put, this “Anointed One sent from God” wasn’t head-and-shoulders taller than the rest. . .had no chiseled chin with a deep cleft in the center. . .no bulging biceps, broad shoulders and six-pack abs. . .no charismatic personality that automatically attracted people to Him, etc.
No, He was a pretty plain-looking guy. An average Joe. One Who didn’t stand out in a crowd or command attention when He walked into a room.
He’d never make the top 100 list of most attractive men in the world; neither would his suave, debonair ways charm the masses. He wasn’t unattractive or a milk-toast, mealy-mouthed kind of guy whose demeanor said “I’m your doormat. Walk on Me as you please.” But, again, He was a quiet Stranger in our midst Whose Greatness ran deep, like the ocean depths or a deep well with a refreshing spring at its depths.
But, that’s not really the kind of Savior we want.
Like those in His day, we want one who’ll wow the masses. Cater to their “lust of the flesh, eyes and pride of life” (I Jn. 2:16). We want one who’s “tickle our ears” and tell us what we want to hear (II Tim. 4:3) so we won’t feel so convicted about our sins and shortcomings.
Yet, that’s not the type of Savior He is.
Never was and never will be.
Though shrouded in Mystery when He came—and even until today—to those who’ve met Him personally, He’s the Source and Essence of Life, Love, Joy, Peace, etc. (Gal. 5:22-23). Truly, in Him we find everything we’ve ever needed and looked for—and more.
To find Him we must “be still and know that He is God” (Ps. 46:10). We must cease our struggles and, in reality, our search itself—realizing that He’s the Good Shepherd Who’s looking for lost sheep (Mt. 15:24; Lk. 15:1-7; 19:10). And, what rejoicing there is in Heaven and even here on earth when we realize we’re found by Him Who came all the way from Heaven to make us His own (Lk. 15:11-24). Hallelujah!!
Dear Pilgrim, cease from your worries and cares about externals and temporal things; in Eternity they will not matter. Instead, pursue Jesus—that “Pearl of great price” (Mt. 13:46)—and find in Him, and Him alone, your all-in-all. To the world He may not look like much, but to those of us who are redeemed He is precious, so very precious, indeed (I Pet. 1:18-19; 2:4-10).
December 18, 2011
