Dear friend, I wish you a Merry Christmas. The promise verse in Isaiah 11:1 says, “Then a shoot, the Messiah, will spring from the stump of Jesse, that is, David’s father, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.” Here, the stump symbolises the fallen state of David’s royal line after the Babylonian exile. Though the stump signifies death, God has the power to bring life from death. Many generations later, Jesus was born in a manger to Mary and Joseph. He came into this world to give life, and life in abundance. Jesus is the long-awaited branch from the stump of Jesse. David’s royal line had declined and decreased, but the Lord gave Jesus the throne of David once again.

Jesus, the branch, brought life into the world by hanging on the cross and banishing the sins of all humanity. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death,” yet the Lord brought life from death. The stump became a branch and bore fruit, which is the transformative impact of Jesus’ ministry. The despised tree of David finally sent forth a shoot that grew into a tree whose leaves are for the healing of nations. This shoot from the stump reminds us that even when a situation appears dead in the natural, God can still call forth life. No matter what your life looks like, you can still live again. Do not be discouraged. Never give up. Even when you feel there is no way out, remember that God is not done with you yet. He is still working, bringing every dead thing back to life, and your healing will spring forth quickly by His mighty hand.

That’s why Jesus came into this world, dear friend. Let me share a testimony to encourage you. A brother named Selvaraj and his wife, Annal Valliyammal, from Tiruppur, testified to God’s miraculous power. In 2018, Sis. Valliyammal suffered from severe heart pain. Doctors said there was bleeding in her heart and warned that surgery might not save her life. They were heartbroken. Even at another hospital, there was no hope, only an expensive operation worth eight lakhs. Out of fear, she relied on medicines for six years, visiting many worship places, yet no one could help. Then one day, a friend guided them to the Bethesda Prayer Centre. There, a prayer warrior prayed over her. Over the next seven years, her scans showed the swelling reducing little by little, to the doctors’ amazement. Finally, they declared her completely healed - not in danger anymore, no surgery but purely by God’s grace! Today, her family is blessed and grateful, giving thanks to the indescribable gift, Jesus, the Messiah, the branch who brings healing and miracles. May the Lord’s resurrection power come upon you today. Praise be to God!

PRAYER: 
Heavenly Father, I thank You for my Messiah, Jesus, the branch from Jesse’s line. You bring life to me even where everything seems dead. Let Your resurrection power flow into my life today. Please revive my broken heart and my weary soul. Turn my moments of despair into dancing once again. Heal me, Lord, and restore my hope and renew my faith in You. Let the fruit of Your grace and healing blossom within me. Let my life become a testimony of Your unending love. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray. Amen.