The Glorious Coming:
A Jesse Tree Celebration of Advent
By: Ann Voskamp
A Jesse tree can be either a banner or a poster on a wall, with the ornaments fastened to it; or a tree, with the symbols hung from the branches. If you choose to do a banner or poster, it can be made from poster board. Using markers, draw a stump with a single green branch growing from one side. Then tape the ornaments onto the branch. You may want to have a tree (real or artificial) to hang the ornaments on. Those little decorative artificial trees you can get at the discount stores would work great for this!Preparing for the Coming
Advent, derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming," is upon us. These are the days of preparation; preparing for the celebration of Christmas, preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ. Many families mark the days of advent with a traditional advent calendar, opening a wee door for each day leading up to Christmas. The Jesse Tree, however, is a different kind of advent tradition, one that focuses on the grand panorama of God’s story from the beginning of time. The notion of a Jesse Tree stems from Isaiah 11:1:
“A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.”
The father of King David, Jesse’s branch points to a new King of Kings, Jesus. Instead of tucking back Advent calendar flaps, consider decorating a tree branch with ornaments representing the pageantry of all mankind, from Adam to Messiah. A testament of what family means in the story of Jesus' birth, the symbols on our "Jesse Tree" bear witness to thousands of years of ancestors in the faith. This Jesse Tree Advent tradition leads to a rich reading of Scripture, a time of thoughtful reflection and worship. During Advent, you may choose to have one family member hang that day’s ornament after your evening meal. Another family member may then read the accompanying Bible verses and prayer. He’s coming. Let’s prepare.
A Jesse Tree Invitation
Every family has one: a family tree with its arching branches of grandfathers and grandmothers, its sheltering leaves of aunts and uncles. To make a Jesse Tree is to trace the family line and heritage of the family of God, of human beings from the beginning of time to the coming of God Himself, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. We will hang the symbols of our story on our corporate Family Tree, the Jesse Tree. We will open God’s Word and read God’s story—our story—as He wrote it on the pages of people’s lives. And Jesus will come to us, and we will come to Jesus. It is Advent. Come.
Advent
Today's reading: Isaiah 11:1-2
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
This is Advent, the season we celebrate Your coming, Lord. We read the words and yearn for its truth: “And there shall come forth…” We ask You to come again, Branch of Jesse, not just to this world, not just to this family…but to grow up in each of our hearts individually.
Perhaps, more accurately, Advent is about our coming back to You.
When we think about the Jesse Tree, about the genealogy of Jesus' line and the span of Your breathtaking story, we cannot help but think upon the shoot of miraculous Hope that springs up from the despairing stump of our existence.
In the midst of barren winter, New Life is budding, a New Spirit is taking root: a spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord. Plow the soil of our hearts, Lord. Break new ground in us. It is Advent. Come.
Lord, let there come forth out of the stem of Jesse a New Life
and a New Spirit in the soil of my soul.
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