December 2: Isaiah 11:1-2 / Matthew 12:18-21

When looking at Jesus’ family tree (Matthew 1, Luke 3), it is filled with unlikely men and women… people who, humanly speaking, should not have been included…not to mention be in the family tree at all. Time and time again, major surprises appear regarding who did / didn’t make the “list.”

Yet God, in His sovereignty, had a plan. This plan - specifically! - involved each individual…people intentionally chosen by God…and this plan ultimately culminated in Jesus.

Jesus…the one, only, and perfect Son of God.

Jesus…full of wisdom and understanding.

Jesus…full of counsel, might, and knowledge.

Jesus…the legal descendant of David, “rooted” in Judah.

“Branch,” referring to Jesus, is seen in the Old Testament. The picture continues throughout the Gospels, each one focusing on a different aspect:

                - Matthew - David’s righteous Branch (Jeremiah 23:5)

                - Mark - my servant the Branch (Zechariah 3:8)

                - Luke - the man whose name is the Branch (Zech 6:12)

                - John - the Branch of Jehovah (Isaiah 4:2)

                - the Hebrew word netzer (“branch”) links to the name given to Jesus - “the                                          Nazarene” (Matthew 2:23)

Jesus is the fulfillment of all Old Testament promises!

In these passages in Isaiah 11 and Matthew 12, we see the unity of the Godhead - all three actively involved… “The Spirit of the Lord (Jehovah) shall rest upon Him (Jesus).” As the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus while on earth, the Spirit empowers followers of Jesus to serve and glorify our God! (Acts 1:8)

Because of - and for - Jesus,

Pastor Daniel & Melissa Bowman
Community Church of Fish Creek









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