The Stump Of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1)

 

Monday, 15 December, 2025

Psalm 104:1-25

Isaiah 10:33-11:9

Revelation 15

The Stump Of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1)

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

How often have we heard these words! Hopefully you have at least twice a year – once through the reading cycle for Advent, and again at whichever Lessons and Carols service you attend!

This passage gets better and better as it goes on. There are more and more amazing scenes of peace

and getting-along-ness as you read on. But what makes it really hit home is what has been working to lead up to this moment.

The wickedness of the land had come to such a fever pitch that God sent the Assyrians – and then the Assyrians themselves were so wicked that God cut down them as well. People had formed a society, God had let them try and work it out themselves, they had ended up in misery and sin, and God replaced them with someone new.

Finally – wonder of wonders, praise the Lord, finally – there is someone to lead that will raise us humans to where we ought to be. Finally we will no longer be circling the toilet bowl of human autonomy. Out of the ruins of our own hubris, out of the ashes of our weak efforts, shall come forth a shoot, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. Even world history follows the pattern of resurrection – the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the shoot coming forth from the stump of Jesse.

Where are the ruins in your life at the moment? Where is the shoot coming forth from that stump? Where is the fruit of Jesus in that experience?

O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem, unto your own and rescue them. From depths of hell your people save, and give the victory over the grave, that the whole earth may know of your glory, and we may rejoice in you forever.