Friday, December 26, 2008
Second Christmas Day
Jeremiah 23:5-6 "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."
HE SHALL BE CALLED: BRANCH
This descriptive term might seem like an unusual one among the others that we have considered this week. A Branch? What exactly does that tell us about Jesus anyway? This description of Jesus is not unique to this passage.
"There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots" (Isaiah 11:1) and "Behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH" (Zechariah 3:8) are examples of others.
In reality this was a very beautiful picture, especially for God's Old Testament people. Usually the term Branch was connected to David. "I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness." At the time Isaiah prophesied, the Kingdom of Judah was in fast decline. Jeremiah saw the last King of Judah (a descendant of David) taken into captivity to Babylon and Jerusalem destroyed. The tree of David had been cut to the ground.
But these prophets foretold a time when a Branch would grow out of that stump. A Branch would grow up who would be a descendant of David and who would reign forever. That Branch would be a King who would be righteous and who would bring salvation to His people. That Branch was Jesus.
Behold, a Branch is growing of loveliest form and grace,
As prophet sung, foreknowing; it springs from Jesse's race
And bears one little Flower
In midst of coldest winter, at deepest midnight hour.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 645:1)
