In Advent last year, I experienced very intensely the words from Isaiah "Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit." (Is 11:1) They brought me hope and joy. 
These words refer to the future Messiah, whom he says will be of the line of David. He will be the new king on David's throne and will bring justice and peace. Jesse is the father of King David, and after him all the kings of Judah and the Messiah. Jesus Christ is truly a direct descendant of King David - "son of David". Therefore, this painting is based on Michelangelo's famous David with a golden royal crown on his head. However, this crown is strikingly reminiscent of the crown with thorns that the crucified King was crowned with. The drops of blood running down his face also connect David with Jesus - although David was God's favorite, he also committed a great sin, murder, and painfully repented of it. Jesus' blood flowed for all the sins of the world. Moreover, the prophet uttered these words about new branch from stump from Jesse during the Babylonian captivity, at the time when the Jerusalem temple was reduced to ashes. It was actually rebuilt later. And so it is with everything that Christ touches - the dead brings forth life. Although cut down, we can grow green again!