See also – Metaphors 1

The Spirit of God, in His desire to reveal Christ, employs many metaphors or similes to aid our limited capacity to understand the eternal. At times, He will appeal to the animal kingdom with pictures such as a lamb, a hen, or a worm. He will employ the stellar heavens as well with such expressions as the Sun of Righteousness, the Morning Star, and Lightning.

From the field of agriculture, He has chosen many pictures, usually ones that contrast with the prevailing conditions of the nation of Israel, to reveal something of the beauty of the Lord Jesus. Consider:

A Root out of a Dry Ground – Life Amidst Death

“For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant (shoot) and as a root out of a dry (parched) ground…” (Isaiah 52:2). Isaiah, in his fourth Servant Song, described the Lord as a root out of a dry ground. The imagery here suggests many themes: a root that could find no nourishment in its environs and had to look upward; a root that sought everything it needed in heaven. But we will consider it as a picture of life and life-giving in a dead world. He not only possessed life but was the source of all life (John 1:4).

He found nothing in the ground in which He was planted that satisfied His soul. His own world, His own creation, had become estranged from God and was marked out as lifeless.

A Tree Planted – Fruit Amidst Barrenness

“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water … the ungodly … are like the chaff…” (Psalm 1:3-4) Psalm 1 contrasts the tree planted with the chaff that is driven. But the contrasts multiply the more we consider them. The chaff is weightless, but the tree is not. The chaff is useless, providing no useful purpose, while the tree can provide shade, fruit, and rest. But primarily, it is the fruitfulness of the tree in season, and the barrenness of the chaff and the world around.

The Lord Jesus brought forth fruit in season. All He did was at the right time and in the right way. He did not cleanse the Temple as a boy of twelve, but He did as a mature Man. He did not rush to Lazarus’ aid but was four days “late,” yet just on time.

Here was a life that primarily brought forth fruit for God’s enjoyment. All He ever desired to have from man was found in this perfect Man. He accomplished what the nation of Israel failed to give God in their long history. He gave to God as a Man all that humanity in its four millennia had not done. Here was a Man in Whom God found all in which He delighted.

A Corn of Wheat Falling – Selflessness Amidst Self-Centredness

“Except a corn (grain or kernal) of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone…” (John 12:24) One of the most tragic and costliest results of Eden’s fall was that we, as human beings, became self-centred when once we were created to be God-centred. Selfishness and self-interest control the natural man. No argument there.

But there was, amazingly, one Man Who was selfless. To add to the wonder of it all, here was the one Man who was entitled to everything as He had given life and provision to all. Yet He only once asked for something – a drink – and even then used it for the ultimate blessing of the woman (John 4).

In the imagery of the corn wheat, the Spirit of God is highlighting a choice made by the Lord Jesus: to dwell alone in the completeness and joy of the Godhead, or to die and bring a harvest of undeserving sinners into His company and into heaven ultimately.

In His selfless nature, He made the choice to descend into death, a death of unspeakable shame and suffering, that He might provide life for us.

A Plant of Renown – Fame Amidst Failure

In light of all the above, He is worthy of fame, renown, and honour. All this will be His millennially and eternally. And you and I will be privileged to ascribe it all to Him.