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Bloom Where You're Planted: the Root of David

by Alan Allegra
12/25/2020 / Devotionals

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star“ (Revelation 22:16).

Roots was a popular miniseries based on the bestselling book by Alex Haley, who traced his ancestry back to an African tribe in 1750. Finding Your Roots is a current PBS show in which celebrities hire Henry Louis Gates Jr. to dig into their past in order to trace their ancestry as far back as possible. Some have been traced back as far as Charlemagne and even Levi! Ancestry.com and similar sites have exploded with subscribers hoping to find a famous branch on their family tree. Of course, we can all trace our heritage back through Noah to Adam and Eve!

I’ve often wondered if any relatives of Jesus are around today. Since Mary and Joseph had many sons and daughters, there must be half- or step-descendants around somewhere.

During His time on Earth, Jesus was known as the Son of David. David was Israel’s most famous and beloved king, the ancient equivalent of Washington, Lincoln, and Reagan. Christ was the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant, a direct descendant of King David (1 Samuel 16:1 – 15; 2 Samuel 7; Psalm 89:3 – 4). In Isaiah 11:1, God promises a shoot from the stump of Jesse, David’s father — Messiah would come from Jesse. However, a few verses later, Isaiah continues the prophecy with a verse that has stumped readers for ages: “In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples — of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious” (V. 10). The Messiah, or Christ, is both the source of life for Jesse and a descendant. Ouch! Jesus used that concept to stump the Pharisees (Matthew 22:41 – 46). How could Jesus be at both ends of David’s family line?

The book of Revelation chronicles the fulfillment of all the kingdom promises made to Israel and the nations. It introduces the work of Jesus the Messiah in 5:5: “And one of the elders said to me, ‘Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’” Jesus the conqueror is the root of David; in other words, He was David’s creator and source of that king’s power and relationship with God. As such, Jesus has the authority to rule and judge the world and receive honor and glory.

In the final chapter of Revelation, when all is said and done, the root (and descendant) of David invites everyone to come to Him for eternal life. Jesus wraps up the future history of all Creation, and identifies Himself as both God and man, a throwback to Isaiah 11:1, 10.

This root invites all who hear to come to Him for salvation and everlasting life. He is rooting for you in love and wants you to surrender to the Conqueror. He promises to return, so allow the son of David and God to take root in your soul and nourish your faith today, “rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7)!

Alan is editor of Lifestyles Over 50 (Thrive Media) and contributor to the Allentown, PA, Morning Call. He is also an adult Sunday school teacher and Bible study leader. Passionate about reviving theology and church methodology, and being a senior citizen!

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