May 12
26
“I am the Root and the Offspring of David.”—Rev. 22:16
Let attention be now fixed on the announcement of Jesus: “I am the Root and the Offspring of David.” Incredulity is startled, and exclaims: It cannot be! How can one person be alike the parent and the progeny of another! How can He originate and also receive existence! The Root may bear the branch; the branch may germinate from the Root; but they are essentially diverse. The Root and the topmost boughs cannot intertwine. The glacier, which is the cradle of the stream, cannot also be its final bed. Jesus uses this seeming impossibility to silence the cavils of the Pharisees, “If David then call Him Lord, how is He his Son?” (Matt. 22:45) The union of God and man alone can give reply.
View Jesus. As God, He is the Root of David; as man, He is his offspring. We here see the wonders of the Gospel-scheme, the pivot on which salvation turns, the unfathomable ocean whose breadth and length no power of man can scan. Let us sit humbly at the shore, and mark some ripples breaking at our feet.
I. The Offspring of David. When sin upset the world, and man became the bond-slave of the devil, the victim of eternal wrath, an alien from God’s family, and the prey of every form of misery; mercy flies on rapid wing to bring a healing balm. A staff is given to support the wretched outcast. A prospect is exhibited on which hope might repose. Recovery is announced. The promise sweetly sounds, that one in human form should repair the breach, and crush the serpent’s head. The seed of the woman should restore the fallen culprit to all, and more than all, that had been lost through sin. Thus the first-born prophecy declares that in fullness of time a deliverer should arise, offspring of the family of man.
At first the prophecy is general, and specifies only human birth. As time rolls on, predictions assume a more especial garb. Their features become more exact. Intimations speak in graphic terms, and precise pictures are displayed. Heralds of His advent sound distinct preludes. Suffice it to remind that the period of His assuming human garb is clearly told, the very place in which He shall draw the first breath of life is added; the tribe, also, is named, which shall be made preeminent by His birth. But the present subject calls chief notice to the fact that the family is specified which shall boast this grand distinction. The seed of the woman shall be born the Offspring of David.
The prophet, from whose lips Gospel-predictions flowed in clear stream, sung unmistakably: “There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” (Isa. 11:1) A mark is thus fixed on the parentage of Jesus. The truth too is annexed, that in this family, when it shall be low in obscurity, and the scepter should seemingly have departed, He shall arise out of the ashes of the smoldering house a bright flame, and shall enlighten the Gentiles, and become the glory of His people Israel. Similarly the same prophet sings, “To us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom to order it, and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even forever.” (Isa. 9:6, 7) The seed of the woman shall be born in the house of David.
David, also, himself received the glorious tidings. The great honor of his house was stated to him. The inspired Nathan thus comforted the king, “When your days are over, and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish His kingdom.” (2 Sam. 7:12) The memory of this promise lived from age to age, and Paul avowed its fulfillment: “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised.” (Acts 13:23)
Other Scriptures specify David as the progenitor of the woman’s seed. The riches of redemption are displayed as “the sure mercies of David.” A blessed prospect brightens, “They will serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.” (Jer. 30:9) The cheering word goes forth, after years of humiliation shall have been their doom, “The children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their King, and shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.” (Hos. 3:5) Thus when the Desire of all nations shall appear, His cradle shall be in David’s house.
It is a soul-assuring task to contemplate the exact fulfillment. If any word of prophecy should fail, the fabric of salvation falls. But as surely as the word was spoken, so surely in the set time, the angel Gabriel seeks the highly favored Mary, espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. She hears that she is to become the mother of the promised Savior. It is added, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give to Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:32, 33) In accordance, the angel encourages the wondering shepherds: “Fear not! for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10, 11) Thus expectations are fulfilled, and Jesus breathes the breath of life as David’s Offspring.
What floods of peace and consolation flow from this fact! Jesus verily assumes our nature, as truly man as any mother’s son can be, one of our kindred and our race. Thus what man should bear He can bear, what man should do He can do. Is blood required to wash out sin? He has blood to shed. Must death be suffered? He can die. Must the law be rigidly obeyed? As man He can supply obedience. Must each transgression meet inexorable curse? On Him, as man, the curse can fall. Can none enter heaven but in robes of perfect purity? Such garment is wrought out by Christ. Thus David’s Offspring is complete salvation to all who, by the Father’s decree, are given to Him. By His atoning merits He so cleanses those who no shadow of a charge against them can be found. He so adorns them with the beauties of unsullied righteousness, that heaven’s portals open widely to admit them.
-Henry Law. (extract from offspring of David)