Consider Jesus: Ensign of the People

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Isa. 11:10-12“Then it will come about in that day That the nations will resort to the root of Jesse, Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious. 11 Then it will happen on that day that the Lord Will again recover the second time with His hand The remnant of His people, who will remain, From Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, And from the islands of the sea. 12 And He will lift up a standard for the nations, And will assemble the banished ones of Israel, And will gather the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth.”

The Lord, through Isaiah, says that He give the nations relief and shelter through the “root of Jesse,” which we know to be the Messiah. He will be for them a “standard” (variously translated as “banner,” “signal” and “ensign”). 

The Messiah will be the promised rallying point for the beleaguered people. The “banished ones of Israel” as well as a host of people from pagan nations will all come to the signal that God has raised and find shelter and relief there.

We think of all the symbolic importance of a flag – we pledge alliance to it, we gather under it, we rally around it, we march behind it, it represents us and our cause, we have a special place in our hearts for its colors and symbols, we view attacks and disparagements of it as personal affronts. In this sense, Christ is the flag of God to the world and all nations are called to find rest and peace under it.