Moment of Meditation: Shoot of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1)

"There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit."
(Isaiah 11:1)

Shoot of Jesse

Even though it looks like the family tree of Jesse has been cut down, leaving only a stump behind, Isaiah prophesies that a shoot will grow from it. The Messiah, who would fulfill the promise of God that David's son will sit on the throne forever, was still to come. Isaiah brings an almost springlike quality to the prophecies about the Messiah. Spring is the season where new growth begins. What once was dead during the winter lives again through the warmth of the spring sun.

So it would be for the children of God. New growth would occur. One from the house of David would come and take His rightful place on David's throne. Although it seemed that the entire family of King David had been decimated by rival kings and governors who wanted to make sure that there were none left with noble blood, Mary and Joseph continued to survive in their backwater town of Nazareth. From the house of David, Jesus was brought into the world through Mary's womb and raised under Joseph's fatherly guidance. Jesus is the shoot who not only withstood the winter of life in this sin-filled world, He brings that new growth and new life through His resurrection. This new life is yours as His free gift. If you have not owned Jesus as your Lord and Savior, what better time to receive this gift than during the Christmas season. Just as with God, my door is always open and my ear always ready to listen. Amen.