Christ, Descendant of David, King of Kings

Categories: hymns

Date: 24 November 2004 09:40:16

O Radix Jesse,
qui stas in signum populorum,
super quem continebunt reges os suum,
quem gentes deprecabuntur:
veni ad liberandum nos,
jam noli tardare.

O Root of Jesse,
who stand as a sign for the people,
kings stand silent in your presence,
whom the nations will worship:
come to set us free,
put it off no longer.

The third O Antiphon of Advent recalls verses 1, 2 and 11 of Isaiah 11:

1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
...
11 And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,
Who shall stand as a banner to the people;
For the Gentiles shall seek Him,
And His resting place shall be glorious.

The icon above shows Jesse, King David's father, at the bottom and the branch from him leading up to the Mary and Christ -- the Branch of Jesse, who in verse 11 becomes the Root. Various kings, prophets and other Old Testament figures are also shown.

J.M. Neale's translation of Ode 4 Cosmas the Melodist's Ode for Christmas Day expresses it well:

Rod of the Root of Jesse,
Thou, Flower of Mary born,
From that thick shady mountain
Cam'st glorious forth this morn:
Of her, the ever Virgin,
Incarnate wast Thou made,
The immaterial Essence,
The GOD by all obeyed!
Glory, LORD, Thy servants pay
To Thy wondrous might today!

The Gentiles' expectation,
Whom Jacob's words foretell,
Who Syria's pride shalt vanquish,
Samaria's pride shalt quell;
Thou from the Root of Judah
Like some fair plant dost spring,
To turn old Gentile error
To Thee, its GOD and King!
Glory, LORD, Thy servants pay
To Thy wondrous might today!

Christ, the Root of Jesse, indeed has called all people, Jew and Gentile to Him. The promises of Isaiah find their Yes in Christ. By His becoming Man and His defeat of Satan through his self-offering on the Cross and His Resurrection, He is the Only Worthy One:

But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."
Revelation 5:5

Glory be to You, O Lord; glory be to You.