Advent Midweek 2 – O Root of Jesse December 9, 2020
Isaiah 11:1-10
Jesus' Unique Family Tree
v. 1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before whom all kings are mute, to whom the nations will do homage: Come quickly to deliver us.
Dearly beloved in Christ, tonight history moves us down the line concerning the Messiah, from Moses to the greatest of all Israel's earthly kings--David, son of Jesse. This is, perhaps, the most obscure of all the antiphons, as we come to the covenant that God made with David--that his seed would inherit and rule an everlasting kingdom. A kingdom that would be for all people--not just Israel.
Isaiah, in his prophecy concerning this coming Messianic King, tells us that He will be not only the branch of Jesse, but the root as well. Which then begs us to ask the question, "How can one be simultaneously both root and branch?" With man, of course, this would be impossible, but with the Lord all things are possible.
The amazing thing about Jesus' family tree is that He is the One who both makes the promise and then fulfills it in His own coming and flesh. For we know from Bible history that Isaiah prophesied of a time when the kings of Israel would be cut down--Jesse's line would be cut off from the throne. But, he also prophesied that there would be a root that would shoot up from the stump of Jesse's fallen house who will then rule into all eternity.
This will be no ordinary earthly king--indeed, the seven-fold Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him and He will judge all things with righteousness. For Isaiah beholds a king from David's line, whose rule will affect human history to the end of time. This Son of David is greater than Solomon and all kings of human origin. He is the Promised One--the Messiah--who will fully be what God desires and fully do what God demands--He is the incarnate Lord Jesus Christ!
Dear friends, Jesus is both the root and the branch of Jesse--He is both David's Son and Lord as Jesus mentions in the Gospels. The One who is born of the virgin of the house and lineage of David, truly is the eternal God in the flesh. An unbelievable miracle, right? Something we in our limited understanding and wisdom can scarcely comprehend.
Yet Jesus comes. He comes to fulfill the promise given to Adam and Eve, to Abraham, Moses, and David. He comes as a real sign, not some abstract idea--no indeed, He is the root--a real living being--not made of wood--but come in human flesh--a real Saviour for us all. Which is why the genealogies are so very important in Matthew and Luke and the rest of Scripture. For they connect Jesus to the fulfillment of the promise from God made to real, historical human beings.
And what is it that this real Messiah/King--true God and true Man--will come to do? Jesus will come--not in glory and honour and prestige--but in lowly humility. To take on our greatest enemies of sin, death, and the devil. He will be cut down on the wood of the cross--for your sins and mine. But three days later He will burst forth in new and everlasting life--the living branch of David and righteousness that can never be cut down again! For by His bloody death and resurrection He has conquered all things and been victorious. This victory He gives to each of you in His gracious gifts poured out through Word and Sacrament.
The fruit that Jesus brings is forgiveness, salvation and life. He will stand as an ensign--a visible sign--for all the people--of the great glory of the Father and all He has done for us through His Son's sacrifice.
Which is why, as Isaiah and others prophesy concerning this coming King, all earthly kings will stand before Him mute--their pomposity and arrogance blown away. For HERE is the KING of kings and LORD of lords, crowned with blood encrusted thorns, nailed to a tree in innocent sacrifice to bring blessing and life to all his people--even those who least deserve it--you and me.
Historically speaking, this image of Christ as King who suffers for His people has captured the hearts of many pious earthly kings. For, at the reading of the Gospel, monarchs would take off their crowns in mute awe of what this King has done for them and the world. King Louis IX of France, also known as Saint Louis, who lived from 1214-1270, stated quite clearly that he thought much more of the place where he was baptized than the place where he was crowned king. This was because when he was baptized he was given a kingdom that can never be taken away, whereas his reign as king of France would end at his death. His deep faith in Christ and the blessings of Baptism should be a strong lesson of encouragement to us all.
Indeed, all of our earthly ideas and power are left blowing in the wind as we witness the awesome power of the Lord Christ on the cross--and again at the empty tomb where He stands in triumphant victory over all man's greatest threats. He has won and He gives that victory--that blessing--that life everlasting--to you--in the waters of your Baptism--in the Word of the Gospel read and proclaimed into your ears each time you receive holy absolution--and it is fed to you in the Supper of this holy King's own body and blood given in, with, and under bread and wine.
And this is why Jesus is the One before whom all nations will do homage. He is to be the object of worship for all nations and people. This starts in Matthew 2:11 with the visit of the Magi or Wise Men. Men who held great prestige in their own right--who were welcomed into kings' palaces, like Herod's in Jerusalem. Yet, upon entering the lowly peasant home of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in Bethlehem, these wise and powerful men fall down prostrate before this holy King of kings--giving this tiny babe in Mary's arms more homage than any earthly king!
For they recognized, as we do today, that Jesus is the Great and Mighty Wonder--who will be adored by all as He comes to give us His life that never ends. This happens each week in the Sacrament of His Holy Supper, as we come before the King who comes by the hand of the pastor in bread and wine. We stand/kneel in homage with open mouths to receive Jesus and His everlasting salvation. Indeed, the fullness of our life is found in falling down before Him and receiving all good things from Him.
And, dear friends, as we have been baptized into Jesus' name--we have become a blessed part of His own family--fellow inheritors of all He has been given by the eternal Father--so, we too, lowly, sinful human beings--cleansed by the blood of Christ the King on the cross--are now permanent members of God's holy family tree. Now and forevermore. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen
Isaiah 11:1-10
Jesus' Unique Family Tree
v. 1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before whom all kings are mute, to whom the nations will do homage: Come quickly to deliver us.
Dearly beloved in Christ, tonight history moves us down the line concerning the Messiah, from Moses to the greatest of all Israel's earthly kings--David, son of Jesse. This is, perhaps, the most obscure of all the antiphons, as we come to the covenant that God made with David--that his seed would inherit and rule an everlasting kingdom. A kingdom that would be for all people--not just Israel.
Isaiah, in his prophecy concerning this coming Messianic King, tells us that He will be not only the branch of Jesse, but the root as well. Which then begs us to ask the question, "How can one be simultaneously both root and branch?" With man, of course, this would be impossible, but with the Lord all things are possible.
The amazing thing about Jesus' family tree is that He is the One who both makes the promise and then fulfills it in His own coming and flesh. For we know from Bible history that Isaiah prophesied of a time when the kings of Israel would be cut down--Jesse's line would be cut off from the throne. But, he also prophesied that there would be a root that would shoot up from the stump of Jesse's fallen house who will then rule into all eternity.
This will be no ordinary earthly king--indeed, the seven-fold Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him and He will judge all things with righteousness. For Isaiah beholds a king from David's line, whose rule will affect human history to the end of time. This Son of David is greater than Solomon and all kings of human origin. He is the Promised One--the Messiah--who will fully be what God desires and fully do what God demands--He is the incarnate Lord Jesus Christ!
Dear friends, Jesus is both the root and the branch of Jesse--He is both David's Son and Lord as Jesus mentions in the Gospels. The One who is born of the virgin of the house and lineage of David, truly is the eternal God in the flesh. An unbelievable miracle, right? Something we in our limited understanding and wisdom can scarcely comprehend.
Yet Jesus comes. He comes to fulfill the promise given to Adam and Eve, to Abraham, Moses, and David. He comes as a real sign, not some abstract idea--no indeed, He is the root--a real living being--not made of wood--but come in human flesh--a real Saviour for us all. Which is why the genealogies are so very important in Matthew and Luke and the rest of Scripture. For they connect Jesus to the fulfillment of the promise from God made to real, historical human beings.
And what is it that this real Messiah/King--true God and true Man--will come to do? Jesus will come--not in glory and honour and prestige--but in lowly humility. To take on our greatest enemies of sin, death, and the devil. He will be cut down on the wood of the cross--for your sins and mine. But three days later He will burst forth in new and everlasting life--the living branch of David and righteousness that can never be cut down again! For by His bloody death and resurrection He has conquered all things and been victorious. This victory He gives to each of you in His gracious gifts poured out through Word and Sacrament.
The fruit that Jesus brings is forgiveness, salvation and life. He will stand as an ensign--a visible sign--for all the people--of the great glory of the Father and all He has done for us through His Son's sacrifice.
Which is why, as Isaiah and others prophesy concerning this coming King, all earthly kings will stand before Him mute--their pomposity and arrogance blown away. For HERE is the KING of kings and LORD of lords, crowned with blood encrusted thorns, nailed to a tree in innocent sacrifice to bring blessing and life to all his people--even those who least deserve it--you and me.
Historically speaking, this image of Christ as King who suffers for His people has captured the hearts of many pious earthly kings. For, at the reading of the Gospel, monarchs would take off their crowns in mute awe of what this King has done for them and the world. King Louis IX of France, also known as Saint Louis, who lived from 1214-1270, stated quite clearly that he thought much more of the place where he was baptized than the place where he was crowned king. This was because when he was baptized he was given a kingdom that can never be taken away, whereas his reign as king of France would end at his death. His deep faith in Christ and the blessings of Baptism should be a strong lesson of encouragement to us all.
Indeed, all of our earthly ideas and power are left blowing in the wind as we witness the awesome power of the Lord Christ on the cross--and again at the empty tomb where He stands in triumphant victory over all man's greatest threats. He has won and He gives that victory--that blessing--that life everlasting--to you--in the waters of your Baptism--in the Word of the Gospel read and proclaimed into your ears each time you receive holy absolution--and it is fed to you in the Supper of this holy King's own body and blood given in, with, and under bread and wine.
And this is why Jesus is the One before whom all nations will do homage. He is to be the object of worship for all nations and people. This starts in Matthew 2:11 with the visit of the Magi or Wise Men. Men who held great prestige in their own right--who were welcomed into kings' palaces, like Herod's in Jerusalem. Yet, upon entering the lowly peasant home of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in Bethlehem, these wise and powerful men fall down prostrate before this holy King of kings--giving this tiny babe in Mary's arms more homage than any earthly king!
For they recognized, as we do today, that Jesus is the Great and Mighty Wonder--who will be adored by all as He comes to give us His life that never ends. This happens each week in the Sacrament of His Holy Supper, as we come before the King who comes by the hand of the pastor in bread and wine. We stand/kneel in homage with open mouths to receive Jesus and His everlasting salvation. Indeed, the fullness of our life is found in falling down before Him and receiving all good things from Him.
And, dear friends, as we have been baptized into Jesus' name--we have become a blessed part of His own family--fellow inheritors of all He has been given by the eternal Father--so, we too, lowly, sinful human beings--cleansed by the blood of Christ the King on the cross--are now permanent members of God's holy family tree. Now and forevermore. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen