Here is the Man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the Lord. It is He Who will build the temple of the Lord, and He will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on His throne. He will be a Priest on His throne, and there will be harmony between His two roles: King and Priest (Zechariah 6:12-13).
Like a tender shoot, He grew with no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him. Nothing in His appearance that we should desire. Despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows, familiar with suffering. We esteemed Him not, for He was like one from whom men despised and hid their faces.
Surely, He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows! Yet, He was considered stricken by God, smitten by Him and afflicted. Praise Jesus, Who was pierced for our transgressions! He was crushed for our iniquities! The punishment that brought us peace with God was upon Him! By His wounds we are healed! (Isaiah 53:2-5).
Jesus so loved the Father, He made Himself as nothing, taking the very nature of a servant in the likeness of man. Though the Word by very nature is God, Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. Instead, He humbled Himself under the mighty hand of the Father (Philippians 2:6-8a) to make known the Word of God is right and true and faithful in all He does (Psalm 33:4).
Yes, Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on the cross (Philippians 2:8) to make known the paths of Life. Jesus explained, “I tell you these things, so in Me (the Word of Truth) you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But, take heart! I have overcome the world,” John 16:33.
God freed Jesus from the agonies of Death, for It was impossible for Death to keep its hold on the Truth (Acts 2:24), for it’s God’s Word that holds everything together (Hebrews 1:3). God has exalted His Word to the highest place of honor and has given Him the name that is above every name – Jesus! And those who deal wisely and heed God’s Word and the counsel of Holy Spirit shall find Good! For whoever leans on, trusts in, and is confident in the Lord – happy, blessed and fortunate are they (Proverbs 16:20 AMP).
God sent His Word to give mankind the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of our sins (Luke 1:77). For like sheep, we have all gone astray. Each of us has turned to our own way. Therefore, God laid on the Lord the iniquity of us all. The Lamb of God was led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so too He did not open His mouth.
It was God’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer. The Lord’s life a guilt offering! So He was stricken, cut off from the land of living for the transgressions of the people. Assigned a grave with the wicked, though He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth (Isaiah 53:6-10).
The Word, the seed of God, died to ensure that like Arron’s rod, God’s New Covenant would bud and blossom and flourish (Numbers 17:8). For the fruit harvested from this heavenly Vine produces Wine that not only gladdens the heart, but makes our face shine more than oil, and Bread to support, refresh and strengthen our heart (Psalm 104:15).
Holy Spirit has given these instructions: Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God Who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13). When we bear much fruit, our heavenly Father is honored and glorified, and we show (unveil, exhibit, display) proving ourselves to be true followers of Christ.
God’s Word explains, “Yes, I am the Vine and you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I, the Word of Life, lives in them bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me (cut off from the vital union of a personal relationship with Me) you can do nothing,” John 15:5 AMP.
We cannot do anything against the Truth, but only for the Truth. Our responsibility is to encourage what is right at all times, not to hope for evil. We shouldn’t just tolerate our limitations; we should celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the Truth in us (2 Corinthians 13:8-9).
God wants us to grow up, to know the Truth and tell it in love – like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Jesus, Who is the Source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with one another. His very breath and blood flows through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in Love (Ephesians 4:15-17 Message).
If we abide in God’s Word, holding fast to His teachings and living in accordance with them, not only will the Truth be known, but the Truth will also set us free (John 8:31-31 AMP). Freed from the bindings of fear and deception and vanity. For what flows from the Word – Love and Truth and Grace – is being written upon our heart and upon our mind.
Our heavenly Father’s desire is to enrich His people in all things and in every way, so we can be generous, so thanksgiving and gratitude to God our Savior is brought forth with thanksgiving (2 Corinthians 9:11 AMP). That we know and understand, believe and proclaim the Lord is binding up our griefs, our wounds, and healing the heart’s brokenness.
Great is our Lord! Great is the power of His Spirit of Truth! His understanding is inexhaustible and boundless (Psalm 147:5 AMP).
Lord, stretch out Your hand to heal
And perform miraculous signs and wonders
Through the name of Your holy servant Jesus
Acts 4:29-30