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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

 

Dear Rev. Graham: I went to a tree decorating party and the hosts had selected Bible verses about various aspects of a tree. I had never heard anything like this. I never connected anything about a Christmas tree to the Bible. But one of the verses was about Jesus being a branch. I didn’t exactly grasp the connection, but it did make an impression and I thought it was nice to bring emphasis to Jesus at a Christmas party. – C.T.

 

Dear C.T.: No wonder He was a carpenter, cradled in a manger made of wood; He brought Christmas joy to the world at His birth. He is Jesus.

Nailed to an old rugged cross and lifted up to die for sin, He brought Easter glory to the world by His resurrection. He is the Savior.

Coming again as the Branch of righteousness, He will bring an everlasting kingdom and will reign in power. Behold! His name is the Branch.

Why Branch? At the time of Jesus’ birth, the royal line of David – from which He came – had dried up in Israel. But He would still be King, for Branch is a title for Messiah and speaks of fruitfulness.

It is hard to grasp that a King would serve, but this is no ordinary king. This is Jesus, whose Father proclaimed, “I am bringing forth My Servant the Branch” (Zechariah 3:8, NKJV). He will be gloriously crowned. He will sit on His righteous throne and “from His place He shall branch out” (Zechariah 6:12, NKJV) to serve.

How will He serve? He will harvest His bounty – souls to fill Heaven. And the same hand that made the trees and fields and flowers, and seas and hills, the clouds and the sky, has been making a home for us called Heaven.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)