Wednesday, 15th December 2021. That Jesus Christ would be called a Nazarene
Text: Isaiah 11:1-16
God used Assyria as a tool to punish His errant children, the Israelites.
However, God later judged Assyria in 609 B.C. and the Assyrian Empire was completely destroyed. But as prophesised (in verse 1), before that, Israel once a mighty “tree”, signifying mighty Kingdom of David, was reduced to a stump under God’s judgment (v.1). Isaiah then prophesies that out of his stump, a twig will sprout into eternal Kingdom. Something you would consider insignificant, a stump of a once mighty tree, will bud and bear fruit.
The above prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus Christ as a child went to live in Nazareth so as to be called a Nazarene (Mat.2:23). Nazareth, a despised place, was going to produce the Redeemer of the universe! At one time, even Nathanael asked Philip, sarcastically, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”(John1:46). Salvation came from lowly Nazareth, not from the pomp and splendor of the royal family of Herod. You are saved not because you were born special; it is by God’s grace!
Meditate on Mat. 2:22. What is God teaching you in this verse?
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, help me to always be in line with Your will. Amen.
