Make a Jesse Tree with Your Family This Christmas Season

The Jesse Tree is a way to prepare for and look forward to the celebration of the birth of Christ. During each day of advent a symbolic ornament is added to a small evergreen tree or a banner with a tree on it. Each ornament symbolizes one of the prophesies about the coming of Jesus or it symbolizes one of the many people in the bible who are a part of Jesus' family tree.

The Jesse Tree is names after Jesse, the father of King David and its name is a reminder of the prophesy in the book of Isaiah 11:1, "A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse." Jesse is often seen as the first person in the lineage of Christ.

Historically, an image of Jesse reclining with a tree sprouting from him has been used in church art over the centuries, mainly in stained glass windows in large churches and cathedrals. Each branch of the tree has an Old Testament character in Jesus' lineage depicted with the uppermost branches showing Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.

Today, the Jesse Tree is set up at the beginning of Advent. The Jesse Tree can either be a small evergreen tree or a purple or blue banner with a green tree set against it. During each day of advent, the family reads a passage of scripture that foretells or foreshadows the coming of Christ and an ornament is added to the tree that symbolizes that passage.

For young children, a story from a picture bible is often read first to help them understand. There is no single set of scriptures that are used for the Jesse tree, but the scriptures either highlight members of Jesus' family tree or are prophesies foretelling the coming of Christ.

The ornaments are traditionally handmade by members of the family during Advent. Usually an established time each week is set aside for making ornaments, such as on evening during the week or Sunday afternoon after church. The ornaments can be made of any material, including construction paper, clay, and wood. When making an ornament, read the passage you have chosen for an upcoming day of Advent.

Think of a symbol that appropriately depicts the key person or key message of the passage and create an ornament depicting that symbol. On the back of the ornament, write out one or two key verses from the scripture passage.