The Branch of Righteousness

5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

1. Jesus relates to us.

Jeremiah 23:5 ESV

a. Jesus relates to us because he was born.

Galatians 4:4 ESV

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

b. Jesus relates to us because he experienced life.

i. He experienced being weary .

John 4:6 ESV

6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.

ii. He experienced thirst.

John 19:29 ESV

29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.

iii. He experienced hunger.

Matthew 4:2 ESV

2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

iv. He experienced marvel.

Matthew 8:10 ESV

10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.

v. He experienced sorrow.

John 11:35 ESV

35 Jesus wept.

vi. He experienced love.

John 13:34 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

vii. He experienced temptation.

Matthew 4:1–11 ESV

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

2. Jesus reigns over us.

Jeremiah 23:6 ESV

6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

a. Jesus is the Son of God.

Matthew 22:41–46 ESV

41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, 44 “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet” ’? 45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

b. Jesus declared to be God.

Titus 2:13 ESV

13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

After the crucifixion, Thomas doubts, Jesus appears, Thomas sees that Jesus wounds are scars but he is alive. Then Thomas declares:

John 20:28 ESV

28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

c. Jesus reveals God’s Character.

i. Omniscience: the state of knowing everything.

John 4:29 ESV

29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”

Luke 11:17 ESV

17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.

ii. Omnipresence: the presence of God everywhere at the same time.

Matthew 18:20 ESV

20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Matthew 28:20 ESV

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

iii. Omnipotent: having unlimited power; able to do anything

Matthew 8:26–27 ESV

26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Matthew 28:18 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

iv. Omnicompetent: having the authority or legal capacity to act in all matters.

John 8:58 ESV

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

v. Eternal: having infinite duration.

John 1:1 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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