A Jesse Tree is either a real tree or a representation of one, decorated with symbols which mark the journey from the creation of the world to the birth of Christ. The symbols represent the ancestral characters depicted in the Jewish scriptures and the gospels.
The ‘tree’ is a common symbol throughout scripture, most memorably featured in the fall of Adam and Eve. Jesus used images of trees, vines and branches to explain the power and life of God. Jesse was the father of King David.
Thus, in its most original form the Jesse tree illustrates Jesus’ human royal lineage, from King David down to Mary. It shows the fulfillment of God’s promise of a miracle to the childless Abraham and Sarah, that although both of them were nearing 100 years old, “kings of peoples shall come from her”.(Genesis 17: 16, NRSV).
A Jesse tree is especially useful for helping children to enter into the spirit of Advent, a spirit of expectant, joyful longing for the God who loves and saves us. It is an engaging way to impart knowledge of our salvation history and the momentous place of Jesus’ birth within it.
Thus while the Jesse Tree is about the journey of the people of God, it also sheds light on our own life journey. It connects us more deeply to scripture, through which Christ never fails to reveal himself to us here and now.
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 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--
3 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;
4 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 and Christians believe that Jesus is this new branch.
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.
Directions to make a Jesse Tree https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=545
Suggested symbols for tree ornaments:
| Bible Story: | Where it is in the Bible: | Symbol: |
| Creation | Genesis 1 | The earth |
Adam and Eve /
Garden of Eden | Genesis 2:4 - 3:24 | A tree with fruit or an apple |
| Noah & the Flood | Genesis 6:9 - 9:17 | A rainbow |
God's promise
to Abraham | Genesis 12:1-7 & 15:1-6 | A tent |
| Isaac | Genesis 22:1-18 | A ram |
| Jacob's Ladder | Genesis 28:10-19 | A ladder |
| Joseph's Coat | Genesis 37 & 50 | A multicolored coat or robe |
| Moses | Exodus 2:1 - 4:20 | A burning bush |
Israelites and
the Passover | Exodus 12:1-42 | A lamb |
| The 10 Commandments | Exodus 19:1 - 20:20 | Two stone tablets |
Joshua and the
fall of Jericho | Joshua 6:1-20 | A ram's horn trumpet |
| Ruth | Ruth (Whole Book) | A sheaf of corn |
| King David | 1 Samuel 16:1-3 | A six pointed 'Star of David' |
| Solomon's Temple | 1 Kings 6 | The temple |
Elijah and
Baal's Priests | 1 Kings 18:16-39 | A bonfire |
Isaiah's 'Jesse'
Prophecy | Isaiah 11:1-11 | A tree stump with a single branch
growing from it |
| Jonah and the Whale | Jonah (Whole Book) | A whale |
| John the Baptist | Matthew 3:13-17 | A scallop shell |
| Mary | Luke 1:26-38 | A white lily |
| Elizabeth | Luke 1:39-56 | A mother and child |
| Zechariah | Luke 1:57-80 | A pencil and tablet |
| Joseph | Matthew 1:19-25 | A carpenter's hammer |
| The Shepherds | Luke 2:8-20 | A fluffy sheep! |
| The Wisem*n | Matthew 2:1-12 | A gold star or the
three gifts or three crowns |
| Jesus | Luke 2:1-8 | A baby in a manger |
Info from why Christmas, Catholic family and Catholic culture web sites.
FAQs
The Tree of Jesse is a depiction in art of the ancestors of Jesus Christ, shown in a branching tree which rises from Jesse of Bethlehem, the father of King David. It is the original use of the family tree as a schematic representation of a genealogy.
What are the three main parts of the Jesse Tree? ›
Jesse Trees have three main parts: A tree, symbolic ornaments, and passages or scripture readings to go along with them.
How do you explain the Jesse Tree to a child? ›
Jesse Tree is a way of preparing for Advent by journeying through the stories on Jesus's family tree. Each day of Advent, read a Bible story about someone on Jesus's family tree and hang an ornament symbolizing the story on your Jesse Tree.
What are the 25 Jesse Tree ornaments? ›
Jesse Tree Symbols and Decorations
| Bible Story: | Where it is in the Bible: | Symbol: |
|---|
| Isaac | Genesis 22:1-18 | A ram |
| Jacob's Ladder | Genesis 28:10-19 | A ladder |
| Joseph's Coat | Genesis 37 & 50 | A multicolored coat or robe |
| Moses | Exodus 2:1 - 4:20 | A burning bush |
21 more rowsThe Jesse tree represents Jesus' familytree. 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. The ornaments/symbols on the Jesse tree tell of Jesus' ancestors, and of the events leading to Jesus' birth.
What does the lion mean on the Jesse Tree? ›
Angels are not just God's friends. They represent God. So the angel in the den with Daniel was almost like God in the den with Daniel. God himself was protecting Daniel! God—the Lion of Judah—showed the lions of Babylon that he was more powerful and that he would protect Daniel.
Do Catholics use the Jesse Tree? ›
The Jesse Tree is a beautiful Advent Devotional that many Catholic Families use during the season of Advent.
What does the stump represent in the Jesse Tree? ›
So, verse 1 sets up the whole rest of the chapter with this very clear image: a stump of a tree that has been cut down, representing how Israel will have fallen, but of this new growth, representing hope: the hope of God's plan for restoring life to Israel through the line of David.
What does the star represent in Jesse Tree? ›
The sun represents Christ as bringing eternal life and light, and is based on the prophecy of Malachi: "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings." The six-pointed Star of David symbolizes the lineage of Christ from the royal house of David.
Is The Jesse Tree about the Old Testament? ›
A Jesse tree is a bare branch that holds symbols of people from the Old Testament who waited and prepared for Jesus. Tradition has it that the love and preparation given the Jesse Tree would make flowers burst forth from the branch.
Joseph's story is prominent in the book of Genesis. Although the lineage of Jesus does not pass through Joseph, he is remembered each Advent in the Jesse Tree, because his story is rich with parallels to Jesus' own life.
What is the Tree of Jesse to Jesus? ›
The tree depicts the biblical Christ's genealogy as a family tree that has its proximate origins in Jesse of Bethlehem, the father of David. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus came from the House of David, an essential fact that legitimized the birth of the Jesus of Nazareth and the Son of God.
How do you pray the Jesse Tree? ›
Gather around the Jesse Tree for prayer. Read the Bible selection for the day's symbol, then hang the ornament on the Tree. Read the prayer for the current week of Advent. (During the time of December 17-23, the "O" Antiphons takes the place of the Advent prayer, or can be used in addition.)
When to put up the Jesse Tree? ›
There are many options out there for how to begin your Jesse tree tradition. Our particular set happens to have 28 ornaments, so we always start 27 days before Christmas (November 28th). I have seen other sets that only have 25 ornaments, so they begin on December 1st.
When you hang a symbol on the Jesse Tree what should you do? ›
Before a symbol is hung on the tree, a Bible passage or a story from a story Bible is read. This is the story of God's family, the story of the Christian family. As we read his Word, we remember that Jesus came for his family.
What does the Jesse Tree honor? ›
The Jesse Tree represents the family tree of Jesus and based on Isaiah 11:1 “A shoot shall spring from the root of Jesse.” Jesse was the father of David from who's family Jesus was born.
