Dry Ground – Isaiah 53:1-3

Does it seem strange to you that the Messiah came when he did?  Wayne Jackson has highlighted the conditions Jesus was raised in: 1) a nation suppressed by a conquering Rome, 2) a pitiful little town called Nazareth that was in a very Gentile-ridden area, Galilee, and 3) in a very vulnerable stature as a poor child (Herod tried to take advantage of that).  And yet…

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

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.  He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:1-3, ESV)

Isaiah expresses how amazing this situation is.  The servant of Yahweh is Yahweh’s way of revealing His saving power, His “arm,” but there is nothing apparent in the servant that makes this evident.

The servant grows up before Yahweh like a young plant, going through all the phases of development that a person would.  But there is something unusual about his development, because he is like a root that springs from dry earth, he develops in an environment that is not conducive to great spiritual development.  And besides all this, there is nothing outwardly remarkable about him, nothing of the charisma that would draw someone to a great leader.

Consequently he will be despised and rejected by people and will experience great sorrow and grief.  His people, Israel, will not esteem him as Yahweh’s trusted servant, will, in fact, despise him and turn away from him.  Once again, before he can be exalted, he will suffer greatly.

Discussion Questions

1. What was abnormal about your growing up?
2. What was abnormal about Jesus’ growing up?
3. What was normal?
4. What was the “dry ground” of the era of Jesus’ growing up?
5. What griefs and sorrows did Jesus experience?
6. Would we have esteemed Jesus if we had been living in that era?