The Jewish people awaited the arrival of their Messiah with bated breath. They knew that when He came, He would save the world and alter the flow of history, even though they were living in the midst of persecution and constant battle. “God, have you forgotten us?” and “God, why all this suffering and evil?” were some of the cries, but there was a prophetic voice declaring that one day He will come and make things right! Perhaps no book did a better job of portraying this picture than Isaiah, which is frequently referred to as the fifth gospel since it contains so much information regarding the arrival of the Messiah. In the passage above (and throughout the rest of Chapter 11), Jesus is referred to as a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and Jesse is a descendant of David; part of Christ’s royal ancestry and lineage. A wonderful ministry of reconciliation is depicted in the passages that follow, one that would bring a kind of peace to the planet that has never been experienced before.

When Jesus came into this world, history was forever altered! He gave a depth of understanding and a fullness of healing to the earth that had never been seen before. He taught that the first would be last and the last would be first, which turned the religious system on its head. He gave the voiceless, unhappy, and oppressed a voice, and He treated everyone with dignity and love. Furthermore, He freely gave His life for the same ones He created in order to free us from the devil’s grasp. He forever freed us from earthly identities and constraints by equalizing us with His blood via the cross and resurrection. He didn’t distinguish between Samaritans, prostitutes, tax collectors, or sinners back then, and He doesn’t discriminate against them today! You are priceless in His Kingdom and can accomplish anything in His name; your life is infinite because He is your source! Isn’t it wonderful news?