The Branch From Jesse

²² “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot^(A) from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.^{(B) 23} On the mountain heights^(C) of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit^(D) and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.^{(E) 24} All the trees of the forest^(F) will know that I the Lord bring down^(G) the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.^(H)

“‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.^(I)’”

¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,^(A) the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.^{(B) 12} Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed^(C) in his name,^(D) he gave the right to become children of God^(E)— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.^(F)

¹⁴ The Word became flesh^(G) and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,^(H) the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace^(I) and truth.^(J)

¹² Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man^(A) must suffer much^(B) and be rejected?^(C)

³ Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,^[a] Judas and Simon?^(A) Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.^(B)