Stem of Jesse

The Nazarene

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

“And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, ‘He shall be called a Nazarene.’ ”  Matthew 2:23

The writing of Matthew, the gospel writing, is particularly filled with the quotations from the Old Testament showing how the birth and life of Jesus Christ are the fulfillment of those prophecies. It seems that there are nearly twenty references to the old writings of the prophets within the first three chapters of the evangelist.

Why would that be important? Since God is the one who verbally inspired the prophets preaching and writing, then He is greatly moved to declare to us that He will fulfill every jot and tittle of Scripture.

What is especially notable of the above verse in Matthew is probably referring to Isaiah 11:1;

“…And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots…”

where the stem or something insignificant, called out. Nazareth is not even named in the Old Testament so an insignificant town. Jesus coming from Nazareth called a Nazarene, seeming so insignificant, but becoming the “Branch” of our salvation.

A reading of Isaiah 53 might bring this together a bit, especially  verse two…

“For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.”

Jesus, being called, “The Nazarene” was a distinct fulfillment of the prophets which foretell His coming, the Messiah, the Christ. His birth, His life, His death, burial, and resurrection were all foretold by the Old Testament prophecies, and came to pass just as they were written and spoken.

Believer, we can rest assured that, just as all Scripture concerning His first coming were fulfilled; then, we can trust that those concerning His return, His second coming will also be fulfilled. Are you ready?

Judging Righteous Judgment

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: and 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; and shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears: but with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked.” Isaiah 11:1-4 (KJV)

There is a judgment coming on the earth, and upon the people of the earth.  No age, neither male nor female, no race, will be exempt from the judgment that is coming.

The judgment received by judges of today can be, and often are unjust, missed, or just plumb wrong.  Judges of men are sometimes bribed, or color their judgment to fit their beliefs; or even the perspective they have of the person being judged.

It is great, and wonderful to know that the Judge that is coming to judge us is a Just Judge, and will judge us in righteousness.  However, we must know that we are all guilty before Him unless we have been covered by His own blood.

You see, Jesus Christ will be that coming Judge.  He died for you and me on the cross.  He was buried – carrying away all our sin, shame, guilt, condemnation and death.  He also was raised bodily from the grave; and will one day – we pray soon – come again and gather His people unto Himself.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, His finished work on the cross, burial and resurrection, and you will have no need to fear His judgment.  He has pronounced all who believe in Him to be Righteous and Just.

Jesus is the Branch.  He will slay the wicked.