Tree of Life

Isaiah 6:13 “And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”
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Isaiah 11:1 “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.”
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Luke 2:30-32, 34-35 “For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel…34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
 
THE terebinth and oak trees in Israel could be cut down to a stump, lifeless to the eye. But even from a stump, they would become alive with new shoots to again provide life-sustaining food and shelter.
   Isaiah is filled with such images of God’s judgment and salvation. The Spirit inspired the prophet to declare sin’s penalty and then mankind’s rise out of sin into God’s salvation. In their sin, Israel would look dead, apart from God. But then life would come from God’s holy seed, Jesus Christ, the shoot to rise from Jesse’s (David’s father) family.
   We see this prophecy of salvation also in Luke 2. At the ceremony of Jesus’ circumcision, Simeon prophesies Israel’s judgment and then salvation through the boy in Mary’s arms. Salvation, though, would cost the Savior and his mother. Hearts of sin would pierce Jesus, and Mary’s soul would be pierced with grief.
   To the world, Jesus would seem cut down, lifeless on a deadly tree. From the grave, though, Jesus, the shoot from Jesse, would rise to eternally shelter and comfort his own.
   How is your faith today? Does it feel cut down, perhaps lifeless because many things are against you? Might we in the church look at empty pews or into the culture around us to declare, “There is no life here.” Is it possible we are too willing to allow doubt and fear to pierce our minds and strip our faith?
   If so, we must stop and know this: The church is planted to be the Tree of Life. From Genesis to Revelation, a tree of life is the symbol of eternal union with God. God banished Adam and Eve from that tree (Genesis 3:24) He then prepared the world to know Jesus is the way to the tree of life: Revelation 2:7 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
   Unwrap and celebrate this Christmas gift of life for your eternal soul. Rejoice in God’s promise that roots and nourishes you in his life everlasting.
 
Prayer: Grow my roots deeply into you, Jesus. Empower my life to faithful fruit. Amen.