The kings of the earth preferred a golden scepter.

”And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.” (Esther 5: 2)

The Prophet, Priest and King who would prevail over them did not come in the pomp and grandeaur that these did — but as rod – a tender plant.

Yet there was never a king like Christ.

He holds all the offices at once.

”And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” (Zechariah 6: 12-13)

So this word “rod” is used to show that the KING of kings is a KING of great contrast to those of every earthly king.

”If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.” (Hebrews 7: 11-13)

He needed none of man’s embellishments, man’s adornments, because he lacks nothing, Christ is the true Prophet, Priest and KING.

”For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.” (Hebrews 7: 14)

Jesus is King of kings and LORD of lords.

”And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,” (Hebrews 7: 15)

But this word “rod” conveys his humility as a man.

”Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.” (Hebrews 7: 16)

For the same reasaon He is said to come “out of the stem of Jesse – out of his roots.”

”For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” (Hebrews 7: 17)

This King is not even said to come out of the house of David.

”For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.” (Hebrews 7: 18)

Because then the people might have envisioned king David who had risen to great stature and prominence in Israel during his days.

”For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.” (Hebrews 7: 19)

Instead, the stem of Jesse — Jesse was David’s father – he lived and died in meekness and obscurity.

”And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?” (1 Samuel 18: 18)

Christ would come from a family which was cut down to the point that its existence was unrecognizable.

Therefore the Holy Spirit does not say this king will come from the house of David.

”For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53: 2)

One reason that the carnal, natural man will not bow to Christ our King is the same reason he was rejected when he walked this earth.

One, he appeared as nothing more than a man – the word here for Branch is “Netser.”

They knew if he was the king then Caesar was not king.

Until he makes us to behold him as he is — KING of kings and lord of lords – all you will see is a man, and you and I will not bow.

But he makes his people willing in the day of his power.

”And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” (Revelation 5: 5)

But notice, in other places he is not spoken of as a rod out of the stem of Jesse but a Righteous Branch and King unto David.

”Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Jeremiah 23: 5-6)

In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious: In the day that the LORD chopped down and burned the field and took away all the stately, impressive, strength of the people; in that day did God shine in counsel with glory upon the earth; the Branch–the man, Christ Jesus, the servant of God, the Mediator between God and men came in his lowly state of humiliation on earth.

”And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:” (Isaiah 11: 1)

But this branch grew and brought forth much fruit.

”In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.” (Isaiah 4: 2)

And the fruit of the earth [shall] be excellent and comely: He is the fruit of the earth because he was born of woman – Christ is the firstfruit; the Branch — Christ Jesus – is covered in fruits of divine grace: righteousness, reconciliation, peace, pardon, adoption, sanctification, and eternal life.

He is excellent in his person, more than excellent than the angels; he obtained a more excellent ministry than Aaron and his sons; excellent in all his offices of Prophet, Priest, and King; his people are branches in him receiving precious life and fruitfulness from him.

”He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.” (Isaiah 27: 6)

Therefore He is the Vine — excellent and comely – for them that are escaped of Israel: Christ Jesus the Branch shall not be excellent and comely to all men, but to them who have seen his glory, have tasted that he is gracious and believe on him; these are the remnant according to the election of grace, the preserved of Israel, the chosen of God, and precious, who are saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation.

”Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.” (Psalm 92: 13)

This Vine, this Branch spread and his kingdom increased in the Gentile world as well.

”To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” (Isaiah 61: 3)

The wealth and honor of this world are contemptible to our King Priest.

”And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.” (Psalm 80: 15)

His kingdom is not of this world.

”I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15: 1-5)

Earthly power and riches have nothing to do with the success of Christ the King, the Righteous Branch.

”I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” (Revelation 22: 16)

For each of us personally, when he has chopped you down like he did Israel, brought you to nothing but a stump, then within each sinner the Life springs up — the tender plant, the plant of humility, and by God’s grace; His rain and His sun, His snow and His watering – you grow in grace, in knowledge and understanding of Christ Jesus the Lord and become fruitful.

‘I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.’

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Where Is Your Treasure?” (27:48 minutes) https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermons/11909820591

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Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 22 March, 2009 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey