Jesus Christ, " The Branch"

What is one thing that rich or poor has to have during Christmas? I think it's probably a Christmas tree. I want to think about the meaning of part of the tree today.

The "Branch"

The part of the tree that branches out away from the trunk.

I have been studying prophetic verses about Christ during this Christmas season. Today I want to reflect on the "Branch" scriptures.

Zechariah 3:8 says, "... I am going to bring in My servant, the Branch."

Zechariah 6:12 "... Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the LORD."

Isaiah 4:2 " In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the pride and adornment of the survivors of Israel.

Isaiah 11:1 " Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit."

Jeremiah 23:5 " Behold, the days are coming", declares the LORD, "When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land."

Jeremiah 33:15 " In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth."

The "Branch" is a "growth" or literally "sprout". This is a "sprout" of Yahweh (LORD) Himself. The righteous "shoot" (tsemah) appeared to be decayed or dead, but it was not.

Joseph came from the line of David, but his family had seemingly lost all claims to the throne because they were poor. But this dynasty of David's tree would burst forth like a shoot.

This ruler, Jesus. will spring forth, or bud forth as a Righteous plant. He is the blossom of the Jewish nation that will spring forth from what appears to be a dead stump.

The coming Messiah would be a joy and honor in the days of calamity to the Jews. But not only that, this branch became "beautiful". He sprouted and brought forth fruits of divine grace, righteousness, reconciliation, peace, pardon, adoption, sanctification and eternal life. He also became "glorious". He was glorious when He rose from the dead.

The gospel IS the fruit of the Branch.

This Christmas when you take off your ornaments that you placed on the tree, let's think about Christ "The Branch".

He needs no ornaments, He was the Branch, and yet He Himself was also the ornaments. He brought forth these glorious "ornaments" that I mentioned above. The peace, pardon, grace, salvation, etc.

These are the most glorious, and beautiful ornaments of all.

You and I as Christians have been en grafted into Jesus Christ, The Branch. Romans 11:16-24.

Who knows? Maybe next year when you put your tree up you will remember about Christ,
"The Branch", and you will stand back and look at this bear tree, think about Christ and all that He gave to us and say, " Thank you Lord that You are my beautiful and glorious Branch."

Let's think differently about the Christmas tree from now on. That the most beautiful part of the Christmas tree are not the ornaments... but the Branch.

( I credit part of this information which was gathered from commentaries from Biblios.com)