“He (Jesus, the Messiah) grew up before him (the LORD) like a tender green shoot—like a root out of dry ground; There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him…. He was despised, and we didn’t esteem him. Surely he bore our griefs and carried our sorrows…” Isa. 53:2–4
Lord Jesus, Isaiah’s prophecy of your birth makes your manger seem like a “garden of grace.” Though you created the sun, soil, rain, and plant life, you came the “tender shoot” of Isaiah’s vision—the “root” our Father planted in the arid, rocky soil of our world.
You created beauty, loveliness, “gorgeousness”… yet you became the one with “no beauty.” Help us grasp this, Jesus… you became the ugliness of our sin on the cross, that we might become pure, dazzling, and beautiful in our relationship with you. Because you were despised, rejected, and non-esteemed, we are God’s adopted, desired, greatly beloved children.
You are the fountain of pleasures (Psalm 16:11) and your joy fills the courts of heaven (John 17:13). Yet, for us, you became the man of great sorrows and unparalleled suffering. When you took up your cross, you took on our sin, sickness, and sorrows. By your once-and-for-all sacrifice for us (Heb. 10:1-18), we are now-and-forever seen, known, and loved by our Father.
Jesus, to esteem, adore, worship, and love you as you deserve—that’s what we want for Christmas, and forever. By your Spirit, let it be so. Grow your tenderness in our hearts, and release your compassion and kindness through us. So Very Amen.