This Day in History: 0000-12-05

December 5 – Isaiah 11:1 (NIV)

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

PROPHESY

  1. The Messiah would come from the family line of Jesse, the father of King David.
  1. The Messiah would be a “shoot” that would come up and produce branches that would bear fruit.

We’re spending some of December looking at Biblical prophecies about Messiah, and how Jesus fulfilled them. Today, we’re examining the prophecy from which we get a really cool Christmas tradition – The Jesse Tree. Jesse was the father of Kind David, and in Isaiah 11:1 the Bible tells us that Messiah would not only be a part of Jesse’s family tree, but that He would be a branch bearing much fruit.

1.The Messiah would come from the family line of Jesse

Matthew 1:1-16 – This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob… Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David…Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

There’s not a ton that needs to be said here. It was predicted that Messiah would come from the family line of Jesse, and here in Matthew we see a genealogy plainly tracing Jesus’s family back to Jesse.

If you’re not familiar with the Jesse Tree tradition, it is a really neat way to celebrate the Christmas season in a way that focuses on Christ. The idea comes from this prophesy that the Messiah would spring up from the “stump of Jesse.” I love the idea of making a Christmas Tree that is focused entirely on the work of Christ through the Old Testament in order to create a sense of anticipation for His coming.

Here is a great article that better explains the tradition: https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/from-adam-to-jesus-the-jesse-tree-tradition-11641703.html

And here is one with some great ideas: https://www.gracefulabandon.com/jesse-tree-advent/?fbclid=IwAR0LWTrAK8ZXUPsqKV6zUyZPK8je2ELx347YVDlBCFkcxy5-wikFKB4HEPc

And here is one that provides some cool resources: http://www.intentionaltraditions.com/2017/11/13/bringing-christ-to-your-christmas-tree/

2.The Messiah would be a shoot springing up from the stump and bearing fruit.

John 15:1-5 – I am the true Grapevine… Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me. “Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.

Have you ever noticed the word “stump” in our focus verse for today? I think it’s so interesting. A stump is not a vibrant, living thing. It is a dead reminder of something that used to bear fruit. What a perfect illustration of Jesse’s family tree!

It had once been a powerful figure, bringing forth some of the world’s most famous kings – David, and Solomon. Even after they died, there was a long line of kings of Judah all sprouting off of Jesse’s tree. But after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians that great tree fell, leaving only an old rotting stump.

And then came Jesus – The vibrant, living shoot from which we are sustained to this very day! He was the One promised, and we must plant ourselves deep in His love. Apart from Him, we can do nothing! But in Him… In Him, we are well fed; supplied with everything we need to produce an abundant harvest for Him!