Advent: Hope, Mercy and the Rod of Jesse

It takes me so long each year to get what advent is. It's a funny little word with big meaning. And then of course, it has to compete with Christmas. This year I found it hidden in the depths of Romans.

Paul has spent quite some time outlining the basics of the Gospel message and getting into nitty gritty issues between Jews and Gentiles. In an argument about how Jews and Gentiles should treat each other, and how those who are strong (in their understanding of Christian freedom, usually Gentiles) and the weak (usually Jews/legalists)--each group has reasons why they could take pride in being "better" than the other.

Both groups are told that being Christian is about not serving yourself (Romans 15:1-3). Not only is Christ given as the model, but OT Scriptures are cited. The source for hope lies in Scripture and in the gifts of God. In light of these truths, the two are told to accept one another (Rom 15:7). Gotta love that advice when you are having the battle of the betters. The reasoning continues.

In verses 8-9 Paul goes on to say:

8For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written,"THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME."

For the Jews, Christ is a servant, a fulfilmment of the promise. And for the Gentiles, Christ glorifies God through Gentile inclusion. Therefore Gentile existence is characterized as a symbol of mercy. This is what should encapsulate our being during the Christmas season, hope for the coming promises of God and celebration of the mercy we have been shown through the coming of Christ.

It is interesting that this passage is followed by passages that highlight the importance and role of the Gentiles. OT quotations that once referenced "the nations" now proudly show that inclusion is for the Gentiles. But when looking at these verses in context, it is clear that before the coming of Jesus, Gentiles did not have a favorable place within the world and the Jews were often quick to disobey God.

The hope of both nations are found in the rod of Jesse, a reference that is made clearly in Rom 15:12. The quotation comes from Isaiah after the prophet announces that God will use Assyria, the worst of the Gentiles to crush the Jews for disobedience:

1Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

2The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

3And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;

4But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.

5Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, And faithfulness the belt about His waist.

6And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them.

7Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox.

8The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den.

9They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.

10Then in that day The nations will resort to the root of Jesse, Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious.

The way of the recreation of all things is what is brought through the coming of the Messiah. Truly this is good news!