Jesus, the branch of Jesse (Isaiah 11.1-3a)

Before you came,
before we knew you,
what did we expect?

A son of David,
a title that rings of
kingship and wisdom now
but then had become
a disgraced and exiled line,
a tree cut off at the roots,
a fruitless, uprooted vine.

But that is your mark -
a shoot from a stump,
a child from a stable,
a king from a woodsmith,
a birth from a grave:

new growth
from old hopes,
green shoots
from dark roots,
fruitful trees
from wasted seed.

We would have expected
the mantle of God’s Spirit
and the glory of God’s grace.

But could we have known
what you would mean
for us -
your wisdom
my open book,
your understanding
my strength,
your counsel
my path through the day,
your power
my healing?

And the greatest gift of all -
your knowledge of the
power and presence of God
is mine,
not as distant worshipper
but as beloved child
who can share your delight.