The Fruitful Branch
Is there hope for life and fruitfulness in the face of death, despair, and hopelessness?
In a time of desperation for the Israelite people who had fallen into sin, and who were subject to judgement, the Prophet Isaiah spoke of the coming Messiah, a shoot or branch from the lineage of the almost extinct line of King David—the dry and almost dead stump of the family tree going back to his father Jesse.
Isaiah proclaimed, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.” (Isaiah 11:1, ESV).
Isaiah prophesied about the coming messiah who would relieve people from their sin and restore them to God. This shoot from David’s line would produce a fruit bearing branch.
Jesus fulfills the promise of Isaiah that the Messiah would come and save. Jesus’ parents, Joseph and Mary, were from Nazareth, which got its name from the Hebrew word for 'branch'—ne·ṣer. The town of Nazareth is “Branchville”, which alludes to the messianic prophecy in Isaiah 11:1, “from Jesse's roots a branch, or netzer, will bear fruit”.
Jesus of Nazareth—“Branchville” is the fruit bearing branch from the shoot of David’s lineage that will bring about the salvation and the restoration of all things.
May we look to the hope and peace of the fruitful branch—Jesus of Nazareth who will bring about his fruit in our lives and in this world.
A Collect for Endurance: “Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the Cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
Begin the month with a #dailydevotional. I have created a #devotional book for each month, a devotional for every day of the year, and offering them for #free by subscribing. Get a link to #Grow365: #December2022—A #Daily Devotional here: www.robbiepruitt.com.
