FENTON, MI – Jesse Trees are a very old Christmas Tradition and began in medieval times. They were used to help tell the story of the Bible from creation to the Christmas Story. The Jesse tree represents Jesus' family tree. The name is taken from Isaiah 11:1, in which Jesus is referred to as a shoot coming up from the stump of Jesse, the father of David.
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
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. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;
But with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. Isaiah 11:1-4 (NIV)
A branch is a sign of new life and new beginnings. Jesus was a descendent of King David making Jesus’ birth a new branch. The ornaments on the Jesse tree tell of Jesus' ancestors, and of the events leading to Jesus' birth.
The first Jesse trees were large carvings, tapestries or even stained glass windows put in Churches that helped illiterate people to learn about the Bible from creation to the Christmas Story. Now, Jesse Trees are used as a kind of Advent Calendar. You can use a normal Christmas tree or a banner in the shape of a tree. Each day through advent (or sometimes just on the four Sundays of advent) a special decoration or ornament (similar to a Chrismon), that tells a story from the Bible, is hung on the tree.
There are very many different stories and symbols you can use. Some of the symbols and stories include:
Bible Story: Creation
Scripture Reference: Genesis 1
Symbol/Ornament: Earth
Bible Story: Adam and Eve
Scripture Reference: Genesis 2:4-3:24
Symbol/Ornament: Apple tree
Bible Story: Noah and the Flood
Scripture Reference: Genesis 6:9-9:17
Symbol/Ornament: Rainbow
Bible Story: God’s Promise to Abraham
Scripture Reference: Genesis 12:1-7 & Genesis 15:1-6
Symbol/Ornament: Tent
Bible Story: Isaac
Scripture Reference: Genesis 22:1-18
Symbol/Ornament: Ram
Bible Story: Jacob’s Ladder
Scripture Reference: Genesis 37 & 50
Symbol/Ornament: Multicolored robe
Bible Story: Moses
Scripture Reference: Exodus 2:1-4:20
Symbol/Ornament: Burning bush
Bible Story: Israelites and Passover
Scripture Reference: Exodus 12:1-42
Symbol/Ornament: Lamb
Bible Story: 10 Commandments
Scripture Reference: Exodus 19:1-20:20
Symbol/Ornament: Stone tablets
Bible Story: Joshua and Jericho
Scripture Reference: Joshua 6:1-20
Symbol/Ornament: Ram’s horn trumpet
Bible Story: Ruth
Scripture Reference: Book of Ruth
Symbol/Ornament: Sheaf of corn
Bible Story: King David
Scripture Reference: 1 Samuel 16:1-3
Symbol/Ornament: Star of David
Bible Story: Solomon’s Temple
Scripture Reference: 1 Kings 6
Symbol/Ornament: Temple
Bible Story: Elijah and Baal
Scripture Reference: 1 Kings 18:16-39
Symbol/Ornament: Bonfire
Bible Story: Isaiah’s Jesse Prophecy
Scripture Reference: Isaiah 11:1-11
Symbol/Ornament: Tree stump-single branch
Bible Story: Jonah and the Whale
Scripture Reference: Book of Jonah
Symbol/Ornament: Whale
Bible Story: John the Baptist
Scripture Reference: Matthew 3:13-17
Symbol/Ornament: Scallop shell
Bible Story: Mary
Scripture Reference: Luke 1:26-38
Symbol/Ornament: White lily
Bible Story: Elizabeth
Scripture Reference: Luke 1:39-56
Symbol/Ornament: Mother and child
Bible Story: Zechariah
Scripture Reference: Luke 1:57-80
Symbol/Ornament: Tablet and pencil
Bible Story: Joseph
Scripture Reference: Matthew 1:19-25
Symbol/Ornament: Carpenter’s hammer
Bible Story: Shepherds
Scripture Reference: Luke 2:8-20
Symbol/Ornament: Sheep
Bible Story: Wisemen
Scripture Reference: Matthew 2:1-12
Symbol/Ornament: 3 Gifts / 3 crowns
Bible Story: Jesus
Scripture Reference: Luke 2:1-8
Symbol/Ornament: Baby in manger