“Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.”
Isaiah 11:1
What better way to start a series of Advent devotions than with an obscure verse from an Old Testament Prophet?!
Are we starting here because it uses tree imagery, and links to Christmas trees?!
Well, not entirely.
It’s from the prophet Isaiah, who spoke words directly from God to his people, Israel. This verse comes as part of a warning that judgement was coming, both on God’s people and their enemies. The Assyrians would devastate Israel, but God would devastate them and like a forest that has been cleared, only stumps would remain.
It’s in this context, that God gives this promise through Isaiah.
The apparent strength of the forests has been taken away, but from one stump, new growth would come.
“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him…”
Isaiah 11:2
The new growth would be a person. A child would be born from one special family.
One family tree would keep growing, despite all others facing a destructive end. It had once been a strong, majestic tree, but it had withered, failed, and been pruned back to a mere root. This family tree would go on to be more fruitful than any other.
What child is this? Jesus is the child. Jesus is the shoot of new life.
This Christmas, we’re going to follow this family tree.
It’s the family tree that runs from Adam & Eve, all the way to Jesus, through the family line of Israel’s greatest king, David.
We’ll see how this family was chosen, so that all other families of the world might see the glory of God.
We’ll see that this family was far from flawless.
We’ll see that this family faced doubt, conflict, failure, and judgement.
We’ll see that this family was given grace, upon grace, upon grace.
We’ll see that this family’s story can also be our story.
Jesus is the branch who would be born, to die on a tree, so that outsiders like us could be adopted, or grafted into the family tree.
As we enjoy beautiful trees all around us this Christmas, let’s remind ourselves of Jesus, the true branch, the true vine, who was born to bring us into his family. As we read of Jesus’ family tree, let’s give God praise for his plan for salvation, worked out with patience through all of history.
As a church, we have the beautiful privilege of now living as God’s people together. Let’s share Jesus together, so that we might prove to be fruitful for him, living for his glory, to know him and make him known.
Written by Pete Bell
A Thought to Remember: Jesus is the shoot of new life.
A Bit More to Read: John 15:1-8, Romans 11:19
A Question to Ask: How can we pursue a fruitful life, living as God’s people, this Christmas?
A Song to Sing: O Come, O Come Emmanuel
A Picture for the kids: Tree Root