“He grew up before him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at him, no appearance that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2).
In this passage, Isaiah painted a picture of the coming Messiah. Looking forward hundreds of years, Isaiah didn’t see a mighty oak, planted beside the creek. Isaiah saw Jesus, One like a spindly plant that grows out of the cracked and sun-scorched desert sand. What the prophet saw was in no way “impressive” or majestic, but “He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3, ESV).
Whereas the Israelites sought a conquering king to overthrow the enemy, one who would ride into his capital city, high upon a white charger, to the sound of triumphant cheers and blasts of trumpets, Isaiah foretold the coming of the Suffering Servant. Isaiah didn’t see the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, but the sacrificed Lamb of God.
In His humiliation, He was “stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted … he was pierced … crushed … oppressed and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4-7). He was a “Man of Sorrows.”
Jesus can “sympathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15). Indeed, He has walked in our moccasins. He understands our grief and pain. He was misunderstood, rejected, abused, insulted, hated, abandoned, falsely accused, sold-out for a few coins, beaten, stripped naked before a watching world, and nailed to a Roman cross. Jesus was a “Man of Sorrows.”
When Jesus announced His imminent and impending death, His disciples balked in disbelief. Their hearts were broken and filled with dreadful fear. The “Man of Sorrows” compassionately consoled them.
“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1). “I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you”(John 16:7). “Truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you”(John 16:20–22).
Have you been rejected? … terminated by your employer? …divorced by your spouse? … given a grim diagnosis? … left behind to grieve alone?
The “Man of Sorrows” understands….
