Over the years as my children have grown up I have done several things to help them understand the REAL meaning of Christmas. I have always wanted to make a Jesse Tree, but the holidays come up on me way too soon and so I end up not getting it together in time. This year I have decided to put together a Jesse Tree and I am starting NOW! That is why I am telling you about it now too.
I have purchased some green felt from the fabric store and printed out a wonderful advent reflections from Faith magazine for free. I then laminated the ornaments so they will last year after year. By the way, don't waste money going to your near by printing store, just purchase some clear shelf liner and it works great. If you want to you can put it on both side of the paper or for an even sturdier ornament, print your ornament on card stock and laminate both sides. This is real thick and sturdy and will last for years.
I figured there must be several of you out there who are interested in doing a Jesse Tree and may not know how or even what it is. So I am giving you a link for free reading for each day of advent as well as free print out of the ornaments.
Now some of you may not even know what a Jesse Tree is, so I thought I would let you know what it is all about.
While nearly everyone has a Christmas tree, there has been reluctance in some circles to incorporate Christmas trees into the church sanctuary, arising from suspicions about the pagan origin of the symbol. However, since the Christmas tree has become such a part of Christmas celebration around the world, it seems more important to give it some clearly Christian meaning.
Some churches do this with a service of the Hanging of the Green. Some use a Christmas tree with ornaments representing symbols of the Christian Faith (see Christian Symbols: Christmas Ornaments). Others use a tree, either at home or in the sanctuary, as a Jesse Tree. This is a tree, or a large banner with a symbolic tree, that is decorated each week, usually by the children, with ornaments or objects that represent Old Testament events from Creation to the Birth of Jesus. The ornaments are traditionally handmade, and are added one each day of Advent, or a group on each Sunday, with explanations of the symbols and a brief verse of Scripture from the story represented. Some churches choose to decorate the tree with small items of warm clothing as a way to minister to the needy in the community.
Some churches combine the idea of a Jesse Tree with Christian symbol ornaments, making and using the ornaments to correspond to the story of the Jesse Tree. However, the Jesse Tree is really an Advent Tree anticipating the coming of Christmas. So, it may be more instructive, especially for children, to allow the Jesse Tree to represent anticipation during Advent while letting a tree with the symbol ornaments be the celebration of Christmas itself.
The Jesse Tree is named from Isaiah 11:1: "A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots." It is a vehicle to tell the Story of God in the Old Testament, and to connect the Advent Season with the faithfulness of God across 4,000 years of history. The Branch is a biblical sign of newness out of discouragement, which became a way to talk about the expected messiah (for example, Jer 23:5). It is therefore an appropriate symbol of Jesus the Christ, who is the revelation of the grace and faithfulness of God.
The Israelites through the descendants of Abraham were chosen by God to be a light to the nations. When they were imprisoned by the Egyptians, they cried out to God for deliverance from their oppression. And God responded: "I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry . . . I have come to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them to a good land" (Exod 3:7-8). And so He entered history in a marvelous way to deliver them and bring them into a place where they could worship God and serve Him in peace and joy instead of serving Pharaoh in hard service. God promised to be with them and to be their God, and they would be His people.
But as they settled into the land that God had given them, "they forgot God, their Deliverer, who had done great things in Egypt" (Psa 106:21). As they grew secure in the land, they began to believe that "my power and the strength of my own hand have gotten me these things" (Deut 8:17). Even though God had raised up godly leaders like David, later kings and religious leaders served their own interests, and the people began to worship the false gods of the land. They even gave offerings to the idol ba’al, supposedly the god of rain and fertility of the land, thanking him for the prosperity they enjoyed.
But God grieved because "she did not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil, and who lavished upon her silver and gold that they used for ba’al" (Hos 2:8). God had "planted [them] as a choice vine from the purest stock" (Jer 2:21) and had expected them to grow and flourish and carry out His purposes in the world. But they had degenerated into a wild bush with worthless fruit.
Because they had forgotten God, they also forgot the call of God to "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God" (Mic 6:8). God sent prophets to warn them of the consequences of failing to be His people. Amos warned them to "seek me and live" (5:4). Through Jeremiah, God promised them that if they would turn from their wicked ways He would bless them and be with them in the land (7:5-7). But he also said: "Take heed, O Jerusalem, or I shall turn from you in disgust, and make you a desolation" (6:8).
Some of the people longed for new leaders, a new "anointed" (Heb: meshiach; Eng: messiah) shepherd king like David who would help them to become what God had called them to be. But most of the people would not listen. They continued to worship the idols of ba'al. They continued to cheat the poor, steal from each other, neglect the needy, and do all manner of evil.
So God let them go their own way and suffer the consequences of their choices. The Babylonian armies came and destroyed the temple, the city of Jerusalem, the land, and took the people into slavery. The choice planting of God that had such promise, that God had tended so carefully and encouraged to grow, was cut down and became a mere stump (Isa 5:1-10).
But God did not give up on this people! Even though they had disobeyed, even though they had forsaken God for other gods, even though they had miserably failed to be His people and to let Him be their God, the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob still loved them. He had made a commitment to these people that He would not allow to be undone even by their rejection of Him.
He had already told them this through the prophets, but they had not understood then. Jeremiah had promised a day when God would again plant and build (31:28). And Isaiah had spoken of a time when God would cause a new shoot, a new king, to spring from the cut-off stump of the lineage of Jesse, David’s father (11:1). During the Exile, suffering under the consequences of sin, they had little reason to suppose that God would do anything new. Still, the old promises echoed across the years, even if they could not believe them or even understand them.
In spite of their failures, in spite of their inability to envision a future beyond exile, there came a time when the prophets again announced a new thing, proclaiming "good tidings" to the people: "Here is your God!" (Isa 40:1-11). The Exile was ended! God would bring back to life a nation that was already dead (Eze 37). Long ago they had been slaves in Egypt, with nothing they could do to change their condition, and yet God had chosen to deliver.
So now, in the midst of their failure and hopelessness, God had again entered history as Deliverer. They would have another chance to be His people, not because they had earned it, no more than they had deserved it the first time; but simply because God in His grace had chosen to forgive.
They returned to the land. But across the years, they again struggled to obey and live up to their calling. They would never again slide into the worship of false gods. They had learned that lesson. But the great kingdom that they dreamed of restoring remained only a dream. They had hoped for a new king like David to lead them into a glorious future in which they would rule the world. They hoped to throw off the control of the Greeks and later the Romans and become a great nation. But it didn’t happen. And they became disillusioned and discouraged.
So, they again hoped for God to raise up a new king, a new messiah, to deliver them from the oppression of the world. They longed for peace and deliverance from the tyranny of a sinful world. The prophets again brought the word of God to them, and promised a newness. Even though they struggled to understand and believe, they held onto the hope that the same God who brought slaves out of Egypt, and who brought exiles out of Babylon, could bring Messiah into the world!
We know the rest of that story. God was faithful to that promise, and a new King was born in Bethlehem. So we can exclaim with the old man Simeon: "My eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared before all people, a light of revelation to the nations, and for glory to your people Israel!" (Luke 2:30-32).
But we also know that the world is still with us. Even though we can have Peace and Joy through the presence of Jesus Christ, we still long for deliverance from the oppression of sin in the world. We long for the full reign of the King, and the Kingdom of Peace that He will bring. So, while we celebrate the birth of the Branch, the new shoot from the stump of Jesse, we still anticipate with hope the Second Advent, and await the completion of the promise.
And for those of you who want to make your own ornaments and really want only just an idea of what to do here you go…
A Jesse tree, either at home or in the sanctuary, can be either a banner or a poster on a wall, with the symbols fastened to it; or a tree, with the symbols hung from the branches.
A banner can be as plain or as elaborate as one’s imagination. Usually, a banner and symbols for a sanctuary are made of heavy felt or cotton, or other appropriate fabric, the design is embroidered or appliquéd, and the symbols attached with pins or Velcro. One for the home or a Sunday School Class can be made from poster board, the design done with markers, and the symbols colored, made from construction paper, or cut from old Christmas cards or magazines.
The background is usually Purple or Blue (the colors of Advent), with a large cut stump and a single green branch growing from one side. The symbols are attached around the branch, usually with a star as the last symbol at the top.
If a tree (real or artificial, as long as it’s green) is used, it should be a relatively small one if only one ornament a day is to be added. A large tree can be used if all of the children make ornaments each Sunday, or if the ornaments are a communal project. The ornaments can be widely varied, from simple hand colored paper from the children, to more elaborate craft items. Different styles can be used each year. If Christian symbol ornaments are used for the Jesse Tree, the primary colors of the ornaments should be the liturgical colors of Christmas, white and gold.
The story of God in the Old Testament can be told either in terms of the main characters of the story, or of pivotal events that helped shape and define the people's journey of Faith through the Old Testament. The Scripture readings given here provide an outline of the story. Since some of the characters and events are recounted over many chapters, some will need to be summarized and a single selection of Scripture that encapsulates the story, usually 4-8 verses, selected for public reading.
The actual story that is told with each symbol should be a short (2-4 min) summary of the person or event, including their significance in the unfolding witness to God's self-revelation in history. While connections can be made where appropriate to New Testament events, the Old Testament story should not be treated only as preparation for the New Testament. The continuity of God's love, patience, and grace across the centuries to the most unlikely people in the midst of their failures should be the focus. Of course, that climaxes in the Incarnation. But we as Christians need to listen to the Old Testament Story for what it teaches us about God and ourselves, rather than use it to get to something else. That is the function of the Old Testament as Scripture (see Hearing Old Testament Advent Texts).
Other characters or events may be substituted for some of these, as long as the main story line of God's grace, of human failure, and renewed hope in God is clearly presented. Different aspects of some of the characters or events may be emphasized in different years. If the Jesse Tree becomes an annual practice, a three or four year cycle emphasizing various aspects of the story can be developed. Since the day on which Christmas falls will vary, the last week's characters will need to be adjusted to the number of days between Sunday and Christmas Day. The Magi can also be used on Christmas Day to conclude with the symbol of the star for the top of the tree, or a candle can be used for the Magi and the star for Christmas Day.
Table of Scripture Readings for the Story
| Date | Persons | Events/Themes | Scripture | Symbols |
| Introduction of the Jesse Tree | 1 Sam 16:1-13 Isa 11:1-10 |
The Tree | ||
| Mon Wk 1 |
God | Creation | Gen 1:1-2:3 | Dove |
| Tues Wk 1 |
Adam and Eve | The First Sin | Gen 2:4-3:24 | Tree with Fruit or Apple |
| Wed Wk 1 |
Noah | The Flood | Gen 6:11-22, 7:17-8:12, 20-9:17 | Rainbow or Ark |
| Thur Wk 1 |
Abraham | The Promise | Gen 12:1-7, 15:1-6 | Field of Stars |
| Friday Wk 1 |
Isaac | Offering of Isaac | Gen 22:1-19 | Ram |
| Sat Wk 1 |
Jacob | Assurance of the Promise |
Gen 27:41-28:22 | Ladder |
| Joseph | God's Providence | Gen 37, 39:1-50:21 | Sack of Grain or Coat | |
| Mon Wk 2 |
Moses | God's Leadership | Exod 2:1-4:20 | Burning Bush |
| Tues Wk 2 |
Israelites | Passover and Exodus |
Exod 12:1-14:31 | Lamb |
| Wed Wk 2 |
God | Giving the Torah at Sinai |
Exod 19:1-20:20 | Tablets of the Torah |
| Thur Wk 2 |
Joshua | The Fall of Jericho | Josh 1:1-11, 6:1-20 | Ram's Horn Trumpet |
| Fri Wk 2 |
Gideon | Unlikely Heroes | Judg 2:6-23, 6:1-6, 11-8:28 | Clay Water Pitcher |
| Sat Wk 2 |
Samuel | The Beginning of the Kingdom |
1 Sam 3:1-21, 7:1-8:22, 9:15-10:9 | Crown |
| David | A Shepherd for the People |
1 Sam 16:1-23-17:58, 2 Sam 5:1-5, 7:1-17 |
Shepherd's Crook or Harp | |
| Mon Wk 3 |
Elijah | The Threat of False Gods |
1 Kng 17:1-16, 18:17-46 | Stone Altar |
| Tues Wk 3 |
Hezekiah | Faithfulness and Deliverance | 2 Kng 18:1-19:19, 32-37 | An Empty Tent |
| Wed Wk 3 |
Isaiah | The Call to Holiness | Isa 1:10-20, 6:1-13, 8:11-9:7 | Fire Tongs with Hot Coal |
| Thur Wk 3 |
Jeremiah | The Exile | Jer 1:4-10, 2:4-13, 7:1-15, 8:22-9:1-11 | Tears |
| Fri Wk 3 |
Habakkuk | Waiting | Hab 1:1-2:1, 3:16-19 | Stone Watchtower |
| Sat Wk 3 |
Nehemiah | Return and Rebuilding |
Neh 1:1-2:8, 6:15-16, 13:10-22 | City Wall |
| John the Baptist | Repentance | Luke 1:57-80, 3:1-207:18-30 | Scallop Shell | |
| Mon Wk 4 |
Mary | The Hope for a Future |
Luke 1:26-38 | White Lily |
| Tues Wk 4 |
Elizabeth | Joy | Luke 1:39-56 | Mother and Child |
| Wed Wk 4 |
Zechariah | Anticipation | Luke 1:57-80 | Pencil and Tablet |
| Thurs Wk 4 |
Joseph | Trust | Matt 1:19-25 | Carpenter's Square or Hammer |
| Fri Wk 4 |
Magi | Worship | Matt 2:1-12 | Star or Candle |
| Jesus | Birth of the Messiah | Luke 2:1-20 | Manger | |
| Christ | The Son of God | John 1:1-18 | Chi-Rho Symbol | |
I hope you each have a wonderful, blessed, faith filled and learning advent this year. God bless you all!
Leave a Reply