The Visitation
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And 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 the fear of the LORD.
ISAIAH 11:1-2
+
The Visitation
Isaiah calls [Christ] a "Shoot" (Isaiah 11:1) and says that He sprouts forth like an outstanding and excellent young plant (Isaiah 53:2). With this expression Isaiah indicates that Christ's kingdom is always growing. You see, the Spirit and Christ's Word are always in a state of growing. They move forward constantly, and as a consequence they bear greater fruit. The world sets itself against it with might and main to cause this branch to wither and dry. It attacks the branch with death, disgrace, poverty, and every evil. God, however, always causes it to grow. He supplies it with enough moisture so that it still grows and flourishes even in the burning summer sun.
From Lectures on Zechariah (Latin text) (Luther's Works 20:40)
ISAIAH 11:1-2
+
The Visitation
Isaiah calls [Christ] a "Shoot" (Isaiah 11:1) and says that He sprouts forth like an outstanding and excellent young plant (Isaiah 53:2). With this expression Isaiah indicates that Christ's kingdom is always growing. You see, the Spirit and Christ's Word are always in a state of growing. They move forward constantly, and as a consequence they bear greater fruit. The world sets itself against it with might and main to cause this branch to wither and dry. It attacks the branch with death, disgrace, poverty, and every evil. God, however, always causes it to grow. He supplies it with enough moisture so that it still grows and flourishes even in the burning summer sun.
From Lectures on Zechariah (Latin text) (Luther's Works 20:40)
Posted in Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2026
January
In The GardenBy Your Own LawA Kingdom Not From HereThe King Who Bears Witness to the TruthWhich Jesus Will You Have?Behold the King We MockedBehold the Man, Lifted for YouAuthority from Above, Glory from the CrossBehold Your King, Lifted Up to JudgeThe Place of the SkullIt Is WrittenEvery Promise KeptStabat MaterIt Is FinishedThese Three TestifyA True TestimonyA Quiet Courage at the CrossThe Empty Tomb and the Wounded SaviorSeeing, Believing, and the Linen Left BehindCalled by Name in the GardenDo Not Cling, Go and TellPeace in Wounded HandsThe Wounds That Speak PeaceYou May Have LifeMy Lord and My GodFishingIt Is the LordThey KnewFeed My LambsFollow HimFollowing Jesus, Not Comparing Paths
February
The Testimony That Is EnoughBefore Kings, Before the CrossBefore You Were Born, the Word Was GivenSet Like FlintRemembering First LoveForsaking the FountainBroken Cisterns and the Living CrossAshamed of Our False RescuesForgottenWe Have SinnedLift Up Your EyesLike SisterReturn to the LordThe Gift of ShepherdsOur Only HopeShame That Leads to SalvationCircumcised HeartsBlow the Trumpet in the LandWhen Wisdom FailsThe Storm We Have SummonedThe Sound of the TrumpetWhen Wisdom Becomes FollyThe Earth Shall MournCan You Find One?There Is No DifferenceThe Lord Must InterveneSpeak TruthEnduring Nation
2025
January
Not AshamedIn Every RespectWe Are In His HouseHear His VoiceTodayBut You BelieveRest in ChristRest in FaithRest in Christ’s WordConfidence in Our Great High PriestOur Eternal High PriestCalled by GracePerfect Through SufferingA Little MilkFoundationGod Comes to UsFaith in ChristObtaining the PromiseThe King of PeaceBlessed by the SuperiorA Priest Forever in ChristThe Forever PriestA Better HopeOur Eternal IntercessorOur Perfect High PriestOur Eternal High PriestThe Better Covenant in ChristA New CovenantPromises KeptOnly The High PriestNot the Blood of Goats