Jesus, the Standard-Bearer

“And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest shall be glorious.  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.  And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”  Isaiah 11:10-12

Some students of scripture see this passage as referring to the time when Jesus comes the second time to earth to rule the nations.  Others see it as referring to this future time, but they also see it referring to the past event when the Assyrians were defeated, and Hezekiah reigned over Judah (II Kings 18-19).  However, verse 10 referred to the “Root of Jesse” which we know is Jesus Christ.  So, it seems that this is a prophesy about a future event, but there are some passages of scripture that can be taken either as in the past or in the future.  That is not unusual for Solomon wrote that there is nothing that is really new.  What will happen has already happened before.  The word of God follows an organized pattern.  Everything written therein builds upon what has already been written.  There are some folks who believe the time of the anti-christ has already passed, but most Christians believe that the period of tribulation and the appearance of the anti-christ are still in the future.

Jesus is called the “Root” in several passages:  “the Root of Jesse” in Romans 15:12; “a Root out of dry ground” in Isaiah 53:2; “the Root of David” in Revelation 5:5; and “the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star” in Revelation 22:16.  Verse 10 also refers to Jesus as an “Ensign”.  An ensign is a standard bearer.  This term is very appropriate in describing Jesus for He is the Standard-bearer by which everything and every person is measured.  When Jesus is finally recognized for who He truly is, God, all nations will bow before Him.  Paul wrote in Philippians 2:10 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  No exceptions.  Those who rejected Jesus will have to acknowledge that He is the Lord over everything, but they will not be able to call Him Savior.

Sometimes, when I see on the news reports of someone who committed a mass murder, politicians pushing ungodly policies, particularly upon the youth, scammers trying to rob old folks of their money, or hear about those who mock the Lord, and commit many other sins, that verse in Philippians comes to mind.  These folks could have had the opportunity to confess their sins and believe on Christ, but they chose not to do that, and then when they die, they will confess Him as Lord, but without the benefit of eternal life in heaven with Him.  I imagine that there is no greater regret than what those who rejected Christ will have.

The rest that Jesus provides in Himself is full of glory.  It is a complete rest.  No worrying, sorrow, uneasiness, but just blissful, satisfying rest.  When Jesus returns, He will gather all those who are called by His name from all parts of the earth.  He “shall set His hand” or exert His power to do it.  He will raise His banner to alert all who are to come, both Jew and Gentile.  There will be peace among the nations.  Folks say that they want “world peace” but they do not want to do what is required to achieve it, that is, turn their lives over to the One who makes peace.

There will be no enmity among the Jews or between Jews and Gentiles.  They will all be safe from their enemies.  They will have victory over all who would be their enemies.  They will possess all the land of their enemies.  God will remove all hindrances to the progress and success of the gospel just as He parted the Red Sea for the Hebrews to cross over.  There will be no barriers to keep the remnant from returning.  Matthew Henry wrote, “When God’s time has come for the bringing of nations, or particular persons, home to Himself, divine grace will be victorious over all opposition.  At the presence of the Lord the sea shall flee and Jordan driven back; and those who set their faces heavenward will find there are not such difficulties in the way as they thought there were, for there is a highway thither, ‘A highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The Way of Holiness’ (Isaiah 35:8)”.

I am glad that God gave us Jesus, the Standard-bearer, which leads us on the “highway of holiness” and keeps us off the “highway to hell”.