Olive

For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.
Romans 11:24 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.11.24.ESV

I love Paul's illustration here to make a difficult concept easier to understand. How can Gentiles be saved by the Jewish Messiah. Let's consider the analogy of the olive tree.

Jesus is like the branch of the olive tree. And He is Jewish, His root is Israel. Naturally, the branches are Jewish, but some have been broken off due to unbelief in Him as the Jewish Messiah.

Not only have some branches been pruned away, but other, Gentile, wild olive branches have been grafted in, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to be careful to remain in Him, because if not, we too will be cut away. Thankfully, God pruned the ones He loves to make us more fruitful.

There is strong reason for hope that there will be a revival amongst the Jewish people, Paul suggests as much here. Just because most Jews don't believe right now doesn't mean to say that many of them won't in the future. We should pray for Jesus's people to come to faith in Him.

'Lord our God, please help us to stick close to Christ, and to allow You to prune us to become more fruitful for Him. In His name, amen'
 

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