Jeremiah 23:5 “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.’”

The Branch is, of course, a reference to the Messiah. The concept of branch refers to David’s family tree, with the branch being a future offspring of David. Jeremiah writes in desperate times when the future of Israel seems over, and the future of Judah is much in doubt. For the most part, the kings who followed David were anything but righteous and wise. They failed to reign as God’s servants, mistreating the people and allowing idolatry.

Many take this passage literally, finding its fulfillment in an earthly reign of Jesus in the last days. This idea is based on a failure of Jesus to establish His kingdom when He came as the Only Begotten Son of God. Jesus came to establish a kingdom, and He did. He is now King of kings and Lord of lords. As you read this blog, Jesus is at the right hand of God, reigning as king and dealing wisely with justice and righteousness. The kingdom of Jesus is not flesh and blood or cities and land, but rather spiritual beings and spiritual realms.

Those who look for Jesus to make an earthly kingdom deny the King’s own claim. John 16:36  ^“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” No earthly reign for Jesus. He reigns in heaven, and thus shall His kingdom be.

Task for Today: Jesus invites you to be a part of His kingdom? Will you join that spiritual kingdom by being born again of water and spirit? Serve in that kingdom while sojourning on earth and serve in that kingdom for eternity. Commit to Jesus in faith and baptism today.