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I. THE ASTONISHMENT PRODUCED BY OUR SAVIOUR'S HUMILIATION.

1. "Many were astonied at Thee" — astonished, doubtless, at the disappointment of their expectations. They had looked for a second Joshua, who should march at their head, and lead them forth from victory to victory till all their enemies should have fallen beneath their feet. They had expected another son of Jesse, who should make the name of Israel terrible to surrounding nations. And when they saw the world's Redeemer, and found Him possessed of none of those external attributes which they deemed essential to His character, they were offended at Him, and their astonishment was that of indignation and bitter disappointment. "Is not this the carpenter's son?"

2. But our text goes on to describe some special causes of this astonishment. "His visage was so marred, more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men." Whilst further on the prophet adds, "He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him." I do not believe that such expressions as these are intended to represent the person of the Saviour as naturally defective in comeliness or dignity, though they have been oftentimes so understood, for we may reasonably conclude that the form which God gave His own Son was one of the best and the most perfect, and that the features of His countenance were as expressive as human features could be of intelligence, of dignity, and of love. Yet there was a marvellous mixture of meekness with this intelligence, of abasement with this dignity, and of sorrow with this love. Never was there a countenance which so beamed with holiness; yet never was there one so deeply furrowed with the lines the curse had made. Unrepenting sinners, like the Jews of old, are to this day astonished "without" being benefited at. the sight, of the Redeemer's sufferings.

II. The text says, alluding to the ceremonial law, He shall sprinkle many nations," etc. We here perceive THE DIFFERENCE OF EFFECT produced by that astonishment which flows from contempt, and that which is produced by reverential regard for an object of infinite worth and dignity. The first opens the lips, and the latter seals them. The first accumulates epithets of scorn. But very different shall be the result of that wonder which shall fill the breast when the Saviour begins to give convincing proof of the greatness, and universality of His triumph.. "Kings shall then shut their mouths at Him." "Seeing the progress of His kingdom," says Vitrings, "they shall revoke their edicts against it, and thus shut their mouths at Him." The wonder shall then become too great for expression. Again, "That which had not been told them shall they see." The general ignorance which prevails amongst men, even the most noble and the most educated, on religious subjects, is oftentimes most astounding. To cleanse the heart, to sanctify the soul, there is no power but of God; and so, whenever a sinner is converted from the error of his ways, he is brought to acknowledge, "this is the Lord's doing." But the true accomplishment of the prediction before us requires greater things than these. There shall be a time when high and low, rich and poor, kings and subjects, shall all stand in amazement at the triumphs of the Cross of Christ. "What they had not heard shall they consider." They shall lay to heart those things which shall arrest their attention. It will not be enough for them to be mere spectators of the Saviour's triumph; they shall become deeply interested in it; all their thoughts, affections, efforts, shall tend towards it.

(S. Bridge, M.A.)

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KJV: As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

WEB: Like as many were astonished at you (his appearance was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men),