THE ROOT OF JESSE

Isaiah 11:10 [original Greek translation from the Septuagint]¹

“In that day the root of Jesse will come and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hopes on him.”

     Jesus was known as the ‘root of Jesse’. He was along the lineage of David who was a son of Jesse; therefore when Paul quotes this verse to the Roman believers in Romans 15:12-13 he refers to Jesus as ‘the heir to the throne of David’.  Jesus was to be the Savior of God’s Chosen people, the Jews, but they were stiff-necked and disobedient and rejected their Messiah because of how he came and who he became.  Due to the Jews rejection God opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles².  This is spoken of in Romans 11:11-31.  The reason for this explanation to the church in Rome was because even though its members were mostly Jewish it also contained a great many Gentiles. 

     The Advent Season is one when Christians throughout the world focus on the coming of the Christ child.  Without Christ’s coming into this dark and sinful world there would be no redemption for man, no forgiveness offered, no grace extended, no mercy given.  In faith we believe and that faith turns to trust which blossoms into hope.  The Gentiles placed all their hopes on Jesus Christ.  Something new had been introduced to them and by their acceptance were now part of the family of God.

     The phrase ‘rule over’ makes it seem like we are God’s subjects.  Rather than being his subjects to do it bidding whether we like it or not, we voluntarily pledge allegiance to the Lamb that was slain from the foundations of the earth.  That Lamb is Jesus.  God has no desire to have robotic subjects.  He instead wishes us to allow him to be Lord of our life.  This is because only the One who created us can know what we are truly capable of.  We are to become willing servants for his sake and for his glory.  Jesus came to set us free from our sins so that we might reach the highest potential possible for the Lord.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible, Tyndale House Publishers.

¹ The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Old Testament.

² A Gentile is any individual who is not a Jew.