Have you ever seen one of those sights in nature where something new is growing out of something old? Sometimes a new shoot or branch emerges and goes off at a different angle.
One of the prophecies about Jesus describes him as the Root of Jesse. Jesse was King David's father. God promised David that the promised Messiah would be one of David's descendants. This naturally meant the promised Messiah would be one of Jesse's descendants too.
The phrase 'Root of Jesse' means something like 'new shoot growing out of Jesse's family'. For centuries the Jews looked forward to the coming of the Messiah in the belief that he would come from Jesse's family tree. Their faith in this promise was tested though, due to circumstances that made it look impossible.
David was a very good king to God's people, and his kingdom which his son, Solomon, inherited was great. But over time the 'royal house' faded. Actually it looked pretty much extinct when the Israelites were taken into captivity by foreigners of a different religion. It was hard to see how it would be possible for the Messiah to come from the royal family of David as God had promised.
Isaiah described this situation as being like a destroyed forest in which only a single tree stump was left.
But wait! In his vision from God, Isaiah saw a shoot emerge from the stump and grow into a strong tree. This was assurance from God that the promised Messiah would still be a descendant of Jesse and David. It was also assurance that the future king-like Messiah would restore the 'royal house of David'.
Those of us who are Christians are part of this new shoot! And by being part of God's kingdom we're part of this restoration and extension of David's former kingship under the new King Jesus.
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"A shoot shall come out of from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots."
Isaiah 11:1
"On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples;
the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious."
Isaiah 11:10
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Sometimes Christians find praying with photographs helpful. They listen to what God's saying to them through the picture. Even if it's not an obvious Christian symbol, God can still speak powerfully through a photo or do something within us while we look at it. It's not that different from when God puts pictures and symbols and visions in people's minds while they're praying.
You might like to experiment with praying with the photograph above. You could try sitting looking at it for five or ten minutes and thinking about the questions below.
As Christians we are somehow descendants of the Jews. We are part of Jesus' new shoot growing out at a different angle. How does it feel to be part of the 'off-shoot' pictured and described above? How does it feel to be personally part of the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy?
Is there something in your life (or has there been something in the past) that looks impossible or hopeless or lacking in life? Something that feels like the lifeless tree stump? Can you see any evidence of God growing a new shoot in the situation? Or can you trust in God's ability to grow something new out of it?
How does it feel to contemplate Jesus' own words, "Behold, I am making all things new" (Revelation 21:5)?
Advent antiphon for 19th Dec:
O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;
before you kings will shut their mouths,
to you the nations will make their prayer:
Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.