The Resurrected Branch

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels.”  Numbers 17:10

A tree branch seems an unlikely topic.  A branch, by itself, has no life.  Often, without a discerning eye, a branch cannot be identified as belonging to a particular type of tree.  It is just a branch.  However, the Bible often takes the unlikely and turns it into a beautiful picture.

People of the Old Testament crafted many practical items from branches and wood.  Among them were staffs (shepherd use), rods (defensive purposes), and scepters (representing royal authority).  Over time, these items gained great symbolism among the Kings who carried ornate, jeweled scepters as symbols of their power, the government officials who possessed rods symbolic of their office, and fathers who held staffs as head of household.  In all of these, the foundational element was an extraordinarily simple piece of wood, a branch.

One of the most compelling cases for trusting the Bible is the enormous amount of fulfilled prophecy.  Many of these prophecies are specific, time-sensitive, and location-based, not fuzzy generalized horoscope type predictions.  Biblical prophecy is compelling. One of the mountain top prophecies is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  For thousands of years before the first resurrection Sunday in Jerusalem, God has delighted in foreshadowing His plan.  The Old Testament captures these pictures in words throughout the Old Testament.  Come and see, one of these beautiful Old Testament pictures of Christ’s resurrection.

The Scepter

One of the earliest prophecies involving these elements is found in Genesis 49:10, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh come; And unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” These words from Jacob to his twelve sons were prophetic of the future line of Kings that would reign in the nation of Israel.  The Scepter represents royal authority coming forth from Judah.  Many scholars conclude from the context that “Shiloh” here refers to a coming ruler or prince.  The conclusion is the King of Israel would descend as a “branch” from the lineage of Judah.  Jesus of Nazareth perfectly fits and fills this description.  Jesus Christ is this King descended from Judah’s family and shall reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

The Righteous Branch

Throughout the prophetical books of the Old Testament, there are numerous references to “the branch.”  Most of these references appear in the context of a man’s descendants or from whom he descended; in other words, his genealogy.  Often in the pages of a Bible, there are designated pages to put a “family tree.”  The “family tree” is the idea conveyed by “branch” in Scripture.  Genealogy in the Bible is a hot topic!  There are four prominent “branch prophecies” in Scripture, and all are prophetic of Jesus.

First, He is the righteous Branch and King, Jeremiah 23:5–6, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper…and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Space does not permit a full explanation of these verses; however, from the context, it is quickly gathered that God’s plan includes a King from the lineage of David, who shall reign forever!

The Servant Branch

The second Branch prophecy foreshadows God sending the world His servant, the Branch.  In Zechariah 3:8, “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, And thy fellows that sit before thee: For they are men wondered at: For, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.” Indeed, when we examine the life of Jesus, we can see Him living His life as a Servant of humankind.

The Man Whose Name is Branch

In the third picture, we see a man whose name is “the Branch.”  The proclamation goes forth, “Jesus was just as much man, as though He had never been God and just as much God as though He had never been a man!” Hard to comprehend, but no less accurate.  Jesus Christ was the perfect God-man.  Zechariah 6:12, “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:”

The Branch Who is the LORD

Last, but certainly not least, we see “the Branch” as God and more specifically as the Son of God, Isaiah 11:1–2, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,” Jesus Christ as the son of God shall reign!

In this brief overview, the Bible prophetical foreshadows the Branch that would come forth from the family of David.  This singular Branch would be King, Servant, Man, and God in one Person!  An amazingly complex prophecy, with an impossible combination of characteristics, would come forth.  But, God has not finished describing this Branch.

The Root Out of Dry Ground

The prophet Isaiah in the 53^rd chapter recorded some of the most descriptive information about Jesus and His ultimate crucifixion in Jerusalem found in the Bible, and it was written some 700 years before the actual events!  It is a sobering look at the life of Jesus as the Saviour of the World.

In Isaiah 53:2, we find these words, “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, And as a root out of a dry ground:”  The picture found here is like a tree that is cut to the ground and left for dead.  However, below the surface, unseen to the eye, there is life, and a tender branch shoots forth from the field in new life.  In this picture, Jesus is that “root out of the dry ground.”  He bursts on the Biblical scene after 400 years of silence.

The Blossoming Rod

Lastly, let’s look at the picture of the resurrection that Numbers 17 records.  This Scripture records a fascinating miracle in the Bible; however, connection to the previous passages get overlooked.

Israel had spent many years in the wilderness since God had delivered them out of Egyptian bondage.  One behavior during this time prohibited them from experiencing God’s best; it was doubt.  Their doubt, disbelief, and lack of trust in God’s message led to complaining and, ultimately, rebellion against God.

There was rampant dissent regarding Israel’s leadership.  Many in the nation, questioned whether Moses and Aaron were God’s appointed authorities in Israel.  God decides to display His power in a contest of sorts.  He will choose the rod of His leader of choice for Israel.  “And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.” Numbers 17:5

Moses called Israel’s leaders together and instructed each man to write their names on their rod, including Aaron.  Moses placed all twelve rods in the tabernacle overnight.  The next day, Moses removes the rods and returns them to each leader with one exception, Aaron’s rod.  In Numbers 17:8, we read, “And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.”

Aaron’s rod budded overnight!  It was the “resurrected branch!”  His rod had buds, leaves, flowers, and almonds! All stages of fruit.  God used life, more specifically, a resurrected life as his divine object lesson to point to His chosen priest.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ separates Biblical Christianity from all other religions.  We celebrate a risen and living Savior!  Why, because He is the Branch.  He is the King! He is the Servant!  He is the Man!  He is the Lord!  He is the Root of David out of the dry ground.  He is Jesus Christ, the resurrected Son of God! 

As Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection this week, we can see His life foreshadowed as a simple branch.  Isn’t that just like our God to take the simple and create this vast panoramic of prophecy!  This resurrection Sunday may we focus our love, adoration, and praise on the “Branch of the Lord,” who is our Resurrected King!