Christ a Branch

“Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH,” Zechariah 6:12.

In these places of scripture, where Christ is called a Branch, we are to understand his human nature is intended; and this according to the judgment of divers expositors. "In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David;" Jeremiah 33:15, "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:" Isaiah 11:1. And this is according to the apostle, where he mentions, that God sware unto David, "Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;" Acts 2:30. "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."

How fitly Christ may be compared to a Branch, we shall note under three or four particulars.

A MEDIATOR

PARALLEL

I. A Branch hath a root or stock from whence it proceeds.

I. Christ, as concerning the flesh, proceeded from Abraham, Jesse, David, Mary etc. Romans 1:3, Mark 6:3.

II. A Branch is of the same nature with the stock and root from whence it naturally proceeds.

II. Christ is really and truly man, and hence he is called the seed of the woman, Genesis 3:15, and the seed of Abraham, Genesis 22:18, and “made of a woman.” Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, Hebrews 2:14.

III. A Branch partakes of sap and nourishment from the root.

III. Christ partook of nourishment from the virgin not only in the womb, but afterwards; “Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked,” Luke 11:27.

IV. A Branch, or the Branches of a tree, are the glory of a tree.

IV. Christ, the Son of man, being the real offspring and son of David according to the flesh, is the glory of all David’s race, and of the whole church of God in general, Matthew 22:45, Revelation 22:16.

INFERENCES

1. This may serve to refute those that say, the matter of Christ’s human nature was from heaven; and that he passed through the womb of the virgin, as water through a conduit-pipe; and is called the seed of the woman, and “made of a woman, “ Galatians 4:4, upon no other account than his being born of a woman. From hence,

2. We may admire the goodness and rich grace of God, and his distinguishing love to mankind, in that the Lord Jesus took not hold of “the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham,” Hebrews 2:16, that there should be a Saviour for fallen man, and none for fallen angels.

3. This shows how man is magnified and exalted by the Almighty. What greater dignity can God confer upon us, than that our nature should be united to, and made one with the Deity? This is the rise and ground of all our hope and consolation.