The prominent design element in today’s gate is … a Branch. This is hugely significant!
The book of 2 Samuel is a biographical account of the life of the greatest king of Israel … King David. David is one of the most important people in the Bible because his life, more than any other person in Scripture, is referenced in relation to Jesus Christ.
The life of David is a picture of Jesus Christ.
– Just as David was born in Bethlehem, so also Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:4-6)
– Just as David was a shepherd (Psalm 78:70-72), so also Jesus Christ is the Great Shepherd of all who love and follow Him. (Micah 5:4-5; Hebrews 13:20-21; Psalm 23)
– Just as David was anointed to be king of Israel, so also Jesus Christ is the great King of all Kings. (Isaiah 9:6-7; Revelation 19:11-16; Daniel 7:27)
Why is the branch in today’s background photo so significant? Because many of the key prophecies regarding Jesus Christ refer to Jesus being the branch, or the root of David.
* Jesus Christ is the branch of David – meaning that Jesus is a direct descendant from the line of David.
* However, Jesus Christ is also the root of David … meaning that Jesus was before David … Jesus existed before time began (John 1:1-2; 1 Peter 1:19-20; Revelation 13:8).
Jeremiah 23:5-6 – “’The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch [Jesus Christ]; a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. … This is the name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.’”
John 7:42 – “Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?”
Matthew 1:1 – “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David.”
Luke 1:32-33 – “He [Jesus Christ] will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.”
Revelation 5:5 – “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David [Jesus Christ], has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Revelation 22:16 – “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
