a righteous Branch of David // week fifteen

My heart has been heavy with the weight of the Gospel this Holy Week. I spent much of the week rehearsing for the Easter play at church, which was effectively a dramatic retelling of the whole Gospel story according to the book of John. I can't tell you what it was like to reenact, albeit mildly, the death and resurrection of my Lord again and again - what it was like to put myself in the shoes of Mary, sister of Lazarus, who saw Jesus do one of His greatest miracles, who sat at His feet and learned the Word from His own lips, who celebrated Him in Bethany only to see Him die brutally outside of Jerusalem a few days later.

It was especially difficult to meditate on all of this with the writings of Jeremiah and the fall of Judah at the forefront of my mind.

All I could think was that, only 600 years later, after the great condemnation we are in the thick of reading - after seeing God's justice and grace to them so clearly through the exile and the return to the land - the Israelites would turn around and reject their God again.

This time at Golgotha.

And this time, instead of doing so by worshiping the Asherim or sacrificing their children to Molech, they would kill the ultimate Sacrifice Himself, in whose blood the New Covenant Jeremiah prophesies is written.

"Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the Lord is our righteousness."

Jeremiah 33:14-16

This is the seed of hope to hopeless Judah as she is led to Babylon in chains.

And - heart-wrenchingly - this is still only a seed of hope to the nation of Israel, for they did not recognize the Branch of David when He came.

But by the grace of God, I do.

He did not come in royal robes, riding a white charger. He did not come to take a temporary throne or to answer temporary problems. He came to be the heart of God to humanity, to drink the cup of wrath owed to me, and to write the New Covenant in His blood so that His Kingdom may prevail forever.

The righteous Branch of David was beaten and crushed - poured out to death, a guilt offering for sins not His own.

Yet I call Him Conqueror, for He is more than the branch - He is the root as well, and though He was cut down, the ground couldn't contain Him, couldn't prevent Him from bursting forth in glorious Life.

And when He comes again, He will come in royal robes, riding a white charger, to take the throne eternal. This time, Israel will recognize Him.

"Behold, I am coming quickly. . . .
I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star."
Revelation 22:12a, 16

This Lord - the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star - is my righteousness. He lives. And He is coming quickly.

Come, Lord Jesus.