Over the past two days, we’ve noted that Jesus was likened to a seed. This points to Y’shua’s significance in our spiritual family tree. Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to see Him as a branch.
Jeremiah 23:5 AFV
[5] “Behold, the days come,” says the Lord, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall do justice and righteousness in the earth.
The Righteous Branch
To my knowledge, there aren’t many trees which bear fruits directly from the trunk. Rather, the tree branches, which shoot out from the trunk, add body to the tree, and provide the medium for fruits to germinate and grow. So, Y’shua the branch is the source of fruits and fruitfulness.
Just as the seed helps to extend a family line, the branch perpetuates a family. The branch of David’s family tree bears David’s DNA, confirming the extension of his family line. This was important as the average family, threatened with food insecurity and many conflicts in those days, always lived with the danger of extinction.
Point to Ponder
Looking at our own family trees, can we identify some potential (past) threats to the perpetuation of our lineage? What shall we do to effect justice and righteousness?
Deeper Dive
Recently, we’ve also explored the need for Y’shua as the second Adam, Who not only understood God’s assignment, but was wholly qualified to complete the assignment of redemption. Then, we noted that the redeemer had to be sinless, not just one who sins less. As the _tsedeq tsemach_ (that is, the righteous branch) of David, any fruit borne of Y’shua would be just and holy in the sight of God. Thus, although David himself was not righteous in His own, Jesus’ divine DNA altered those who are descended from His branch of the spiritual family tree.
It doesn’t stop there however. We learn in 2 Samuel 7 that God promised David an eternal dynasty. There were several reasons to believe God had reneged on God’s word. But, in spite of horrible heirs, the Divided Kingdom, the Exile, and Pax Romana, God delivered on God’s promise with Jesus’ birth.
That came to fruition centuries later. Matthew 1:6 and 17 tells us that 28 generations passed between David’s reign and Y’shua’s birth. His life, death, and resurrection point the way to God’s justice and righteousness. Upon our confession of faith, His blood flows into ours making us the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 5:21) because we are trapped into righteousness by His DNA.
That’s part of the hope and joy we celebrate in this season. The coming of the One, in Whom there’s no sin, yet took on our sin so we might be made just and righteous. We’re only required to believe that He is our righteousness.
Self-Check
If in Christ we become the righteousness of God, then how are we demonstrating that knowledge in the public sphere?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
