See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.

Isaiah 52:13-14

God works in amazing and surprising ways. Given his glory and power, we might well expect that his Servant would be equally glorious and powerful. In a sense, this is ultimately true. But Isaiah testifies to the surprise of God’s Servant. The one who “will be highly exalted” is not beautiful, but rather “so disfigured he seemed hardly human” (52:14).

When we read this passage from a Christian perspective, we remember Jesus. His birth was about as humble as it could have been (visiting angels notwithstanding!). His human life was relatively ordinary. And his death was as horrible and humiliating as any death could be. Yet Jesus was indeed the Servant of God, the one through whom God was bringing salvation to the world by ushering in his kingdom.

The example of God’s Servant challenges me to look, not with human eyes, but with divine insight. You and I are easily impressed by power, fame, beauty, and wealth. We tend to look for leaders—even Christian leaders—who shine with human glory. Thus we can easily miss the genuine work of God in today’s world, a work that comes through those who are humble, unimpressive, even invisible. Isaiah reminds us to look, not for glitch, but for the gospel.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What impresses you most: beauty, fame, wealth, power, or . . . ? Have you ever met someone who was used by God in profound ways even though that person had no earthly glory? Are you willing to put aside dreams of your own glory in order to walk the road of servanthood?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you are indeed glorious. You rightly receive the worship that belongs to God alone. Yet, in your matchless mercy, you did not grasp your glory, but emptied yourself, taking the form of a slave, becoming human, and even dying on a cross. You were not what people expected of a god, not to mention God.

Because you were disfigured on the cross, you have brought salvation to this world. Moreover, you have been highly exalted, hailed at the one true Lord, worshiped as God. Today I join that worship, amazed by who you are and what you have done.

Help me, Lord, to see with your eyes. Help me not to be blinded by human glory, but to see how you are working even today in those who are humble. May I serve you and others in humility, imitating your self-giving love. Show me, Lord, how to love those around me today. Amen.