FRIDAY December 21, 2018

A Rod and Branch

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
Isaiah 11:1-2

The prophet Isaiah spoke a brand new prophecy. He gave a picture of a tree stump, and all of a sudden a Rod came up from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch from out of its roots. Isaiah proclaimed a prophecy that the Messiah would be born within the lineage of Jesse, who was the father of King David.  Jesus Christ came from the bloodline of King David––amazing.

The Branch in Hebrew is Nezar, the root word for Nazareth. Many Bible teachers believe this is a prophetic reference to Jesus growing up in Nazareth (Matthew 2:23). Also mentioned in Isaiah’s prophecy is the seven fold work of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus Christ. Christ is wisdom!

In the book of Matthew 1, we have the genealogies of the lineage of Christ. It was very important for the Jews to know their genealogy. Usually they would not have women written in their genealogy, but   in the book of Matthew 1, we find four different women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba, which speaks of the grace of God––fully and completely.

Through both Joseph’s and Mary’s lineage came the Messiah. Satan tried to destroy the godly line of Christ. Yet, God told Adam and Eve when they sinned in the Garden of Eden: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15). This is yet another prophecy about Christ, as a Seed, born of a woman, to triumph over the enemy––Satan.

This is God’s gift of Christmas: the cradle—His Son; the Cross—His life; the crown—His coming kingdom.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!