The Branch

Scripture

In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch of David sprout; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.

~Jeremiah 33:15, NASB

Quote

The impact and influence of Jesus life will grow and grow until it covers the earth like a vine.

~Jonathan Cahn

I grew up in Limestone County within a quarter of a mile of Panther Branch. My first understanding of a branch was a small stream of water, bigger than a brook but smaller than a creek. Then I came to understand that a branch can also be a plant, a limb on a tree for example. The Hebrew word for ‘Branch’ its Tzemach {pronounced se-mach}. It comes from the Hebrew word that means to sprout, to blossom, to bear, to prosper, to branch out and spring forth. The Righteous Branch that Jeremiah and Zechariah mention is Jesus. Isaiah uses the same image just not the same word…For He grew up before Him like a like a tender shoot and like a root out of dry ground. The root out of dry ground may be in reference to the virgin birth. The point we are trying to make today is that a branch spreads. It begins small but branches out. Jesus brief thirty three years on earth was the sprout, the root out of dry ground. Like a vine, Jesus continues to grow and branch out. The Romans crucified over 35,000 Jewish men and I am willing to bet that you can name only one off the top of your head. If you think for a minute, you will get two, maybe three. But if you stand on the street and interview the public, the only name they will come up with is Jesus. I am also willing to bet you can go anywhere in these United States and find people who can name one Jewish man who was crucified.

Jesus said the Kingdom would spread like leaven; that it would grow and branch out like a tiny mustard seed and He was right. Jesus never traveled more than 200 miles from the place of His birth. He started with only 12 disciples and may have had 120 by His crucifixion but what is that compared to the world? I will tell you what it is: it is small, tiny, minuscule. Now think of the gigantic, enormous impact Jesus has had on this world. He changed the calendar. He changed our holidays. Who founded and runs the shelters for the homeless? Who began hospitals and ministries of mercy? There were no hospitals until Jesus came, no women’s rights, no rescue missions, no churches and these are just a few of the areas that Christ has transformed the world. What would December be without Jesus: just another cold and dark winter month. The impact of His solitary life grows and grows and it will keep growing until the name of Jesus is known throughout the earth. The gates of hell can’t stop His Kingdom from growing.

You could counter with the argument that it is not growing in America but I will counter with the fact that it is growing in China and other places throughout the world. Christianity seems to thrive when it is persecuted. If the devil himself can’t stop Christianity from spreading, what makes you think Karl {missed the} Marx and Friedrich Nietzsche can. A freight train doesn’t stop for a barking dog.

Extra

This would have been yesterday or Monday’s blog but I didn’t make it to the office yesterday and so I share it late. There should be one in the morning.

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