The Jesse Tree

It was the spreadsheet that I remember.
It was hand made not computer generated.
It was hung on our refrigerator.
It was checked every day.

The spreadsheet was made by my oldest son.
He wanted an organized way to keep track of our countdown.
Counting down the days until Christmas was of upmost importance.
Just remembering was not enough; he had to make it official.

We had the Scripture Advent calendar, which required a door to be opened every day.
Behind that door was a verse that pointed to Jesus and told the Christmas story.
We had an Advent wreath which held three purple candles and one pink candle.
With five children, we had to be a bit creative with our rotation.

Everyone wanted to be the one to “do the pink candle.”
“Doing the candles” meant that I lit them and each child extinguished them.
It was exciting for them to use the brass snuffer and gently extinguish their candle each night.
Our Advent wreath had symbols all around it that told the story of Jesus.

It was wonderful to point to each symbol and be able to tell the story behind it.
Before Advent, each child picked a number.
The number they picked determined their place in the rotation.
It sounds more complicated than it actually was.

It was the addition of other Advent countdowns that made choosing a number so important.
I always had one fun, toy-related Christmas countdown.
It was usually a Playmobile set that after opening each box, a scene was completed.
There was a wooded scene with animals; there was also one with Santa’s workshop.

After every door was opened, the scene was played with and soon became a favorite.
Between the Advent wreath, the Scripture calendar, and the Playmobile set, they were busy.
Opening those things was always part of the morning routine.
My son who made the spreadsheet, enjoyed discovering which box, door, or candle was his.

At some point, we added a chocolate countdown as well.
This time, each child had a chocolate calendar of their own.
It amazed me that they still opened one door each day, eating only one piece of chocolate.
All of these things helped them learn to wait, anticipate, and practice self-control.

Even when they went away to college, a chocolate advent calendar went to their dorm room.
It was a like bringing a piece of home with them.
It was a way to countdown the days until Christmas.
They came home with their unfinished calendar, still eating only one piece each day.

It is wonderful to see Advent through the eyes of a child.
Since my children are grown now, the things we did then are wonderful memories.
The focus was always on Jesus; He is the reason we celebrate.
They learned about Jesus and enjoyed the discovery that each day of Advent brought.

It was a few years ago that I discovered the Jesse Tree.
The Jesse Tree is a very old Christmas tradition dating back to medieval times.
The Jesse Tree teaches children about the family tree of Jesus.
The Jesse Tree is named for a verse in the book of Isaiah.

A shoot will come up out of the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
(Isaiah 11:1)

Jesse was the father of David.
David, a man after God’s own heart, became king.
From the line of Kind David, came Jesus, the promised Messiah.
Jesus is the Branch from the stump of Jesse that will bear fruit.

I decorated a Jesse Tree this year.
Typically, from December 1 until December 25, an ornament is placed on the tree each day.
I can imagine our spreadsheet if we had incorporated the Jesse Tree as part of our Advent.
I put all of the ornaments on the tree all at once.

My intention is to read and ponder the verses on the back of each ornament.
The verses are from the Old and the New Testaments.
The verses tell the Good News of Jesus’ coming.
The verses proclaim the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the long awaited Messiah.

I look forward to another generation participating in the advent season in our home.
I look forward to sharing the Jesse Tree with children that come into our home this Christmas.
I enjoy looking at each ornament and thinking of the part of the story it represents.
I want to remember the story of the Branch and etch that story in my heart.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord – and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:2,3)

This descendant of David, the Branch, is different from others in David’s line.
The Spirit of the Lord characterizes this Descendant.
This Descendant is filled with wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, and knowledge.
This Descendant delights in the fear of the Lord.

This Descendant is Jesus.
Jesus is the Branch.
Jesus is from the stump of Jesse; the stump that had been cut off but now has new life.
All who have come after Him are now part of the fruit of the Branch.

We are that fruit.
We are part of the Branch if we are in Him.
Oh, Come let us adore Him.
Amen.

2 responses to “The Jesse Tree”

1. You have some wonderful traditions! How did you do the Jesse tree? Did you make the ornaments or buy them? I think sometimes we get so caught up in the DAY of Christmas we forget the advent days before it. To me, they represent the waiting that the Jews had done for thousands of years before their Messiah came. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season with your family. It will be even better when the grandchildren come along!

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   • Thank you, Sue! Children love traditions. It is so important that children have something they can count on and look forward to. When it is Christmas that they are anticipating, it is even more important that they know the reason they are celebrating. I bought the ornaments for my Jesse Tree, though they can be hand made as well. I found a small tree in a local hardware store and set it up. I love the significance of each ornament. I love how perfectly it points to Jesus.
     Gina

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