Session Three: O Radix Jesse

Root of Jesse

Let’s be radical!

Radix – Root – Radical

“favouring fundamental change at the root cause of a matter”

What do roots do?

Tree roots “extend radially in every direction to a distance equal to at least the height of the tree (assuming no physical barriers) and grow predominantly near the soil surface.”

Because it had no root, it withered...

Rooted and grounded in love...

If the root is holy, the branches are holy...

Where are the roots of our lives?

For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up and high; against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan.

(Isaiah 2:12-13)

In groups:

• Share together what you know and understand of the state of the Israelite nation by the time of Isaiah – what or who might be at threat from this prophecy in Isaiah 2?

• What or who might be at threat in our society today?

Isaiah 11:1

A shoot shall come out from the stock ofJesse, and a branch shall grow out of hisroots.

Isaiah 11:1-2A shoot shall come out from the stock ofJesse, and a branch shall grow out of hisroots. The spirit of the LORD shall rest onhim, the spirit of wisdom andunderstanding, the spirit of counsel andmight, the spirit of knowledge and the fearof the LORD.

Isaiah 11:3-9He shall not judge by what his eyes see... with

righteousness he shall judge the poor... the wolf shall live with the lamb... the nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den... they will not hurt or destroy... the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

In groups:

• Read the whole of Isaiah 11:3-9

• What were to be the marks of the new ruler?

• Imagine together how life would be different living in the kingdom described.

“A world in which small babies are safe is also a world of refuge and safety for their mothers and

for all who are physically and socially vulnerable”

Isaiah 11:10

On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as an ensign to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

John 12:31-33

Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

...the root of Jesse shall stand as an ensign to the peoples...

“...and I, when I am lifted up, will drawn all people to myself...”

Revelation 5:1-3 Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on

the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it.

Revelation 5:4-5

And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’

Revelation 5:6-9

Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered... He went and took the scroll... Then they sang a new song, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe...

In groups:

• Mothers are often cited as good exemplars of sacrificial love... Do you think that is true?

•Has the church understood the kind of victory Jesus achieved?

•How can we demonstrate victory through sacrificial love?

Revelation 22:16

‘It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches.

I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.’

Channelling nutrition...

How do we understand all that we are taught...?

How do we process all that we hear...?

How are we changed by all that we learn...?

“Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.”

Helen Keller