Ponder Jesus’ coming this Christmas based on stanzas from “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Week two’s devotion focuses on the second stanza.
Root of Jesse
Christmas is coming! We will again hear the angel choir proclaim peace on earth. Yet as we observe our world and our lives, we see little peace. Wars stretch out for years. Differing political views divide our country. Turmoil and strife remain present in our lives. In this divided world and in our troubled lives, we may wonder, Where is the peace?
The Root of Jesse is coming! He is the one who brings peace to our troubled world and lives. The prophet Isaiah gives this beau-tiful title to our coming Savior. “In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious” (Isaiah 11:10). Jesse was the root of a great line of kings of Judah, beginning with his son King David. Yet by Isaiah’s time, Judah had fallen on hard times. Eventually, the kingly line rooted in Jesse would appear to end when the armies of Babylon conquered Jerusalem. God’s chosen people appeared to have no peace.
But appearances often are deceiving! A greater King would come from the line of Jesse. His throne is not in Jerusalem but in heaven. His enemy is no foreign army but the devil with his legions of demons. This King not only came from Jesse’s line, but Jesse also came from him, for this ruler is the very Son of God who gives life to all. Jesus, the Root of Jesse, did not come to end wars between nations but to restore peace between sinners and God. He paid the price for our rebellion when he gave his life for us on the cross. When he rose that glorious resurrection morning, he crushed that tyrant Satan for good and freed God’s chosen people to live at peace under his rule for all eternity.
Christmas is coming! Although wars will continue on this earth, the Root of Jesse brings peace to his people. Although we will still go through troubles and trials in our lives today, the Root of Jesse brings us peace as he assures us that he will continue to protect us.
The Root of Jesse has come! Rejoice, for he brings us peace in every trouble and the ultimate peace of eternal life.
O come, O Root of Jesse, free
your own from Satan’s tyrrany;
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel!
(Christian Worship 327:2)
PRAYER: O come, O Root of Jesse, with your gift of peace. You have restored our relationship with our heavenly Father by your life, death, and resurrection. We rejoice as we live under your protection as you bring us peace. Amen.
HYMN: Sing along to the second verse of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” with Laudate Dominum.
Visit forwardinchrist.net/advent-2025 for devotions on the other verses.
Author: Paul Tessmer
Volume: 112, Number 12
Issue: December 2025
Illustrations: Corissa Nelson
