This devotional focuses on the 15th-century German carol, "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming," highlighting its roots in Old Testament messianic prophecy.
Key Points of the Teaching:
The Prophetic Core (Isaiah 11:1): The hymn is a poetic expression of Isaiah's prophecy that a "shoot from the stump of Jesse" would emerge. Jesse's "stump" symbolizes the royal line of David, which had been seemingly cut down, while the "Rose" represents Jesus, who miraculously springs forth as the promised Messiah.
The Lineage (Jesse's Lineage): The carol affirms Christ's human connection to the royal house of David, while also acknowledging that as the Son of God, he is older than Jesse and the root of the lineage.
The Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14): The second stanza is based on Isaiah's prophecy of the virgin birth of Immanuel ("God with us"), linking the event directly to Mary's experience (the Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55).
The Incarnation's Impact: The final verse summarizes Christ's nature as "True man, yet very God." His coming (the blooming of the Rose) dispels the "gloom with glorious splendor," saving us from sin and death, and acting as our High Priest who "lightens every load."
