December 21, 2025
Underneath the Tree
- Matt Nickoson
Sermon Notes
Have you ever seen pictures of the past and it created a sort of “flashback” to a previous moment in time?
Isaiah 11:1 NIV
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
Jesse is the Dad of King David.
Matthew 1:1 NIV
This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Matthew 1:6 NIV
and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
2 Samuel 7:12-14a NIV
“When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son.” – The Prophet Nathan to King David
These moments in Scripture are flashbacks intended to remind us of God’s promises and faithfulness.
Isaiah 11:1 NIV
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
A stump represents something that was once beautiful and alive but is now cut down.
Matthew 3:9-10 NIV
“And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” – John the Baptizer
Remember, our lives are like trees, and God always expects good fruit to grow on His trees.
Isaiah 11:1 NIV
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
These moments in Scripture are not only flashbacks to remind us of God’s faithfulness, but also of their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
Revelation 22:16 NIV
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
Matthew 1:19 NIV
Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
Matthew 1:20 NIV
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 1:21 NIV
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Luke 2:1, 3 NIV
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to their own town to register.
Luke 2:4-5 NIV
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
How does Jesus save us from our sins?
Isaiah 11:2-3 NIV
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.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
By delighting in the fear of the Lord, Jesus lives the only perfect life. That qualified him to be the perfect sacrifice in our place.
Isaiah 11:4-5 NIV
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
Jesus also saves us by being the only one able to lead us with absolute truth and trustworthiness.
Isaiah 11:6 NIV
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
Isaiah 11:10 NIV
In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.
In Jesus’ name, what appears to be dead finds new life and is made glorious!