The Branch of Jesse's Stem

This is probably my favorite stanza:

4 O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,

unto your own and rescue them!

From depths of hell your people save,

and give them victory o'er the grave. Refrain

These verses are packed full with fundamental Old Testament Prophecy about Jesus.  The “Branch of Jesse’s stem” reference tells us how the Messiah will come from the line of David, as found in Isaiah:

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—

    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

    the Spirit of counsel and of might,

    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11: 1-3

This stanza also refers to how this “Branch of Jesse’s Stem” will defeat death, as Isaiah prophesied:

He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 25: 8

The good news is that these are not prophecies any longer.  There is victory over the grave!  The King of King who came from the lineage of King David through both, Mary and His adoptive father Joseph is the One who came to fulfill the word.  Jesus is the Branch of Jesse’s Stem who saves us from the depth of hell and snatches us from the claws of death.  Rejoice!  Indeed, rejoice! Emmanuel has come to us, His treasured possession.