Isaiah 53:2 “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.”

The ‘he’ referred to in this verse is the servant mentioned in 52:13. Obviously, Isaiah is speaking of the Messiah. The Messiah did not come with royal herald, pomp, and circumstance. Nothing special about him as a child or young man stood out to the populace. David looked like a king, Jesus looked like a hardworking Jew. He is not the King of Israel because of his stature, eyes, prowess with weapons, or any external signs.

The Messiah was chosen and appointed by God, and every attribute he needed was provided by the one who chose him. He is Messiah because of who he is and what he did, not because of how he looked. From a human point of view, the chosen one of God denied common judgment. When Peter confessed Jesus as the Son of God, Jesus told him that his acknowledgment did not come from men. Only God knew what lay beneath the skin.

Task for Today: Don’t judge a book by its cover. As my mother was fond of saying, ‘all that glitters is not gold.’  She was also fond of reminding me that ‘beauty is skin deep.’ The thieves on the cross saw the same figure, but each saw something different. Whether picking a savior or a friend, look beyond the surface.