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adornment of the survivors of Israel” (Isaiah 4:2). Other occurrences include Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5 and 33:15, and Zechariah 3:8. As you can see, Jesus is very prominent in the Old Testament, as well as the New. Once the branch was thrown into the water, the iron head floated. Jesus, the Branch, does for us what we could never do for ourselves. Just like the ax head could have never recovered itself, we can never save ourselves. Although moved by a mother’s plea for her son’s pardon, Na poleon reminded her it was his second offense; and justice demand ed death. “I do not ask for justice,” begged the mother, “I plead for mercy.” “But,” said the emperor, “he does not deserve mercy.” “Sire,” cried the mother, “it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for,”The clarity and compassion demonstrated by the mother prompted Napoleon to respond, “Well, then, I will have mercy.” Although you’ll probably go through life without ever see ing iron swim, you can experience something infinitely more mi raculous and marvelous–deliverance from your sin and salvation for your soul brought about by the death, burial, and resurrection of the Branch, Jesus Christ!

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