The Jesse Tree

 

 

The Jesse tree is a visual representation of Jesus' genealogy which dates back to the father of David who was Jesse.  The whole idea of the Jesse Tree comes right out of a classic Advent passage from the prophet Isaiah:

"A shoot will sprout from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit"

(Is 11:1). 

The Jesse Tree is placed in Church during Advent and hung with ornaments representing Old Testament people and events leading up  to the birth of Jesus. 

Jesse Tree Symbols

 

CREATION

The Dove reminds us of God’s love for the world He created.

 

ADAM & EVE

The Apple reminds us that Adam and Eve disobeyed God.  Christ is called the ‘second’ or ‘new’ Adam because He forgave sin and helped us to become God’s loving children once more.

 

 

NOAH

 

Although men and women disobeyed God and made him angry, he also sees the best in us and renews His covenant with us through forgiveness and mercy.

 

 

ABRAHAM

The starry sky represents God’s promise to Abraham, that he would be the father of God’s chosen people

 

 

ABRAHAM

 

The Ram is the sacrifice God provided when he saw Abraham was willing to give up his only son, if that was what God required of him.

 

JACOB

 

Jacob dreamt of angels climbing a ladder between heaven and earth. When he woke he exclaimed, ‘Truly, the Lord is here, although I did not know it!’

 

JOSEPH

 

Jacob’s son Joseph was hated by his brothers. But he forgave them and gave them food when they were starving.

 

MOSES

 

The Lord appeared to Moses from a burning bush and instructed him to lead the people of Israel to the Promised Land.
 

 

MOSES

 

God delivered the Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai and Moses brought them to his people

 

 

JOSHUA

 

Following God’s instructions to Joshua, the walls around Jericho crumbled at the trumpets blown by holy men

 

 

SAMUEL

 

When Samuel, son of Eli, recognised God’s call, he obeyed, and proclaimed the coming of Christ the King of Kings.

 

DAVID

 

David was a shepherd, but when God called him to be King of Israel; he became a shepherd of people to help them to become what God wanted them to be.

 

 

ISAIAH

 

The prophet Isaiah was afraid that he was not good enough to tell people about God.  An angel took an ember from a fire with tongs and touched Isaiah’s lips with it.  Then Isaiah was able to deliver the Word of God.

 

 

JOHN THE BAPTIST

 

John the Baptist proclaimed the coming of a new saviour.

 

 

MARY

 

The Angel Gabriel told Mary she would be the mother of the saviour, Jesus.

 

 

JOSEPH

 

Joseph the carpenter trusted the angel who told him that Mary’s child was God’s Son.

 

 

JESUS

Jesus was born and laid in a manger.

 

 

ANGEL

 

An angel told the shepherds that Jesus had been born.

 

 

DANIEL

 

Daniel refused to worship idols and was thrown to the lions, but God protected him as a reward for his loyalty.

 

 

RUTH

 

Ruth chose to leave her people to worship the Lord and live with her mother-in-law Naomi in Bethlehem.  Ruth married Boaz and their grandson was Jesse, the father of David

 

 

ELIJAH

 

 Elijah refused to worship false gods even to save his life.  He stayed faithful to the one true God.

 

 

STAR

 

A bright star shone over the stable where Jesus was born and showed the shepherds and the Wise Men where to find Him
 


CHI RHO

JESUS CHRIST IS BORN!
 

 

Jesse Tree Prayer

Lord, we pray
that we may be part of your family.

Help us to be more loving, caring members of our own family
here at home.

Grant that we may remember
the true meaning of Christmas
and celebrate your birth with joy.

Amen.
 

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