Peace Found in Jesus' Lineage

Photo by Robert Anthony Provost

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1

Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

Insights: Last week was the first week of Advent and we looked at hope.  This second week we look at peace.  I titled the sermon Peace is Found in the Messiah.  Today we specifically note that our peace in the Messiah comes from His lineage.  He is the prophetically told Savior who has to come from the line of David.  In today’s verse we see Isaiah telling us that this Messiah would be a shoot from the stem of Jesse.  Jesse is David’s father and Jesus is from that line.  Remember, Isaiah is writing these words almost 600 years before Jesus is born, but they come to pass just as Isaiah foretold.  I used this idea to spring off on a tangent regarding the existence of God.  I talked about the statistics involved in all of the elements needed for life to exist on planet earth.  In other words, the earth has to be the right distance from the sun.  If we are too close, we burn up.  If we are too far away, we freeze.  I gave a few other examples as well.  I then used Dr. William Tolar's Chance or Choice example with coins being randomly pulled out of a pocket (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QEEb61tY64).  I realize in a blog formate there is no way to explain all of this information.  The point being, it takes more faith to believe in chance than it does to believe in a Designer who choose to create the universe and all that is in it.  Part of Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies help explain and clarify His deity and Lordship as Savior.  Knowing Him because of His fulfilling work gives me peace.  It is my prayer this truth also gives you peace.  The rest of the week we will examine four more aspects that give us peace about our Savior from this passage from Isaiah.

Questions:

 1. Do you ever question the existence of God?

 2. Does the fact that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophetic passages give you peace in regards to your Savior?

Prayer: Father, thank You for fulfilling every Old Testament prophetic word regarding Your Son, Jesus.  I receive a great deal of peace knowing He is who He claims to be and by His work I am set free from my sin.  Amen.

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