Views of the Servant

“He grew up before him like a tender shoot,

and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. Isaiah 53:2 (NIV)


In this verse we see two views of God’s servant. The Father saw the servant as a vital life-giving organism that would mature and produce fruit, bearing witness to the Father. God also compares Him to a root, a strong rhizome to give support as well as nourishment to those for whom the Servant will work.

Man viewed the Servant as not special in looks, nor majestic. He had nothing attractive to draw people to Him. Whenever I read this passage, a metal picture of Jesus as the soldiers led him down the Via Dolorosa as depicted in The Passion of the Christ.



“He was oppressed and afflicted,

yet he did not open his mouth;

he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

and as a sheep before his shearers is silent,

so he did not open his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7 (NIV)



Here, we see the world’s treatment of the Servant. The people of Jerusalem turned into an ugly mob, they taunted Jesus. They spat upon Him. He bore a horrible beating. The soldiers gambled to see who would get his robe. They beat Jesus to the point that He couldn’t stand up under the cross arm of a cross. But He never said one word in complaint. Jesus willingly gave up His life for you and me. The crowd treated Jesus as nastily as anyone can treat another human being and yet He later asked the Father to forgive them.

One of the most meaningful passages of scripture to me is where Jesus prays at Gethsemane. He knows what lay ahead for him. He asks God to not let it happen, “If at all possible, take this cup from my mouth.” Yet Jesus then gives Himself over to His Father’s will. Nevertheless, not what I will but what You will.” Mark 14:32 (NKJV)


In this passage the Son turns His over to the Father and willingly sacrifices His life for you and me. No one else in this world has done such a thing like this for us. The people of Jerusalem chose to take Jesus’ life in the most horrible way know to man at that time. And yet, He didn’t complain. He was silent before His accusers. This behavior was not according to human nature.


Dear Jesus:

We sometimes forget how you chose to go to Calvary for us. We neglect to focus on the fact that you didn’t defend yourself before the powers of the nation. Please draw us closer during this Lenten season and help us to learn more of You. We will give You the praise. AMEN