Advent Sermon - Jesus the Branch

1. The trees of Christmas 2. God promised a Branch who would renew King David’s dynasty and usher in righteousness Isaiah prophesied a Branch and a Root from the stump of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1-10) Jeremiah prophesied a righteous saviour Branch (Jeremiah 33:14-18) 3. A thousand years of disappointment Zedekiah – Failed to bring righteousness (King – 597-586 BC) He did not rule with righteousness so Judah was conquered (2 Kings, 25:1-12; 2 Chronicles 36:11-14) Zerubbabel – failed to bring renewal (Governor – 538-515 BC) Governor of Judea after the exile (Ezra 3:8; Haggai 1:12) Helped rebuild the Temple but didn’t bring the hoped for renewal (Zech. 4:9; 6:11-12; 3:8) 4. Jesus is the Branch! A Branch who renewed the line of David A descendant of David who will receive the throne (Matthew 1; Luke 1:32-33) An inhabitant of Nazareth (Matthew 2:23) A Nazarene who lived in a town named for branch (Netzer in Hebrew), with descendants of David living there Is Matthew's appeal to "the prophets" a broad reference to the many Old Testament promises of a messiah descended from David, but with a particular play on the word netzer, “branch,” from Isaiah 11:1? Though the royal line was hacked down to a stump, from that stump a shoot or branch would one day spring up. Matthew may be saying of Jesus, “He shall be called that ‘branch’ of David,” that is, his long awaited son, the Messiah of Israel. Paul Barnett, Jesus & the Rise of Early Christianity, 92-93 A Root who secured righteousness (Rev. 5:5; 22:16; Romans 15:12; cf. Isaiah 11:1, 10; 4:2) 5. Find renewal and righteousness in Jesus the Branch this Christmas Shelter under the loving rule of Jesus Seek to live a righteous life under Jesus