The Root and Offspring of David

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (ESV)

Buried beneath the soil, hidden from the surface, are the roots of a lineage so masterfully orchestrated that it is seemingly incomprehensible. At the base of this tree sits Jesus Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Before Adam was, Jesus always had been.

In his closing epilogue given to John in Revelation 22, Jesus declares these words: “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” Only a few verses later, John pleads “Come, Lord Jesus” (vs. 20) before concluding his revelation, thus bringing the Word of God to a close. This reminder, this beautiful detail of who Jesus is causes the reader to consider the story of the Line of David one last time, reflecting on a number of notable players that came from this family tree.

Jesus Christ, the second member of the Holy Trinity: who was, and is, and always will be; the Root. Adam: the first man to walk the earth. Noah: a man whose faith was strong enough to build a boat for a flood without ever seeing rain. Abraham: he whose descendants would one day be as numerous as the stars. Boaz: the kinsman-redeemer of a Moabite named Ruth and grandfather of Jesse. Jesse: the father of King David. David: a man after God’s own heart. Mary: A highly favored virgin. Throw in a number of evil kings, wise rulers, mighty warriors, seemingly common folk, and there you have it: the Line of David.

And then came Jesus Christ, now here on earth: Son of the Living God. Jesus is both the root and the offspring of the Davidic line… but how can that be? Our minds simply cannot grasp the grandeur of the Lord’s ways, the intricacy of God’s plan to redeem all that was broken so long ago in the garden.

What we can understand is this: if Jesus is the root of all, then our roots are alive and well. Romans 15 says it is through Jesus, who came from the Root of Jesse, that the Gentiles (that’s you and me) find hope. Our hope is found in our creator, our sustainer, the One who came to earth and knew struggle, pain, and death, the One who rose and breathed life into what was once passing away. From dry ground (Isaiah 53:2), He came forth and flourished into a righteous Branch (Jeremiah 23:5).

From Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, Jesus Christ revealed himself through the elaborate puzzle of the line of David and beyond. In the form of a humble baby, Jesus came to fulfill prophecy, conquer Hell, save the souls of the lost, and show us what it looks like to live a life grounded in He who is the very root of all that is good.

Only a Savior like this is worthy to be praised. There is only One whose roots bring forth abundant life, redemptive power, true purpose, and great hope: His name is Jesus, and He is Christ the Lord.