Saturday, December 1, 2012

Advent - Jesse Tree Scriptures & Symbols


I am excited to make the Jesse Tree this year.  Since Junebug is now 3, this is the first Christmas where she is really showing excitement for the arrival of Santa.  But, of course, I would like her to have an understanding about the real reason of Christmas. 

What is the Jesse Tree?  
The Jesse Tree represents Jesus' family tree.
The ornaments represent Jesus' ancestor's and events leading up to His birth. 

The Jesse Tree is a great addition to your Advent calendar.
Below is a list of the scriptures and symbols for each day leading up to Christmas.  

Everyday you read the scripture and put an ornament up on the tree.
You can print the ornaments out in color or black and white.
This year I chose to print out in color. 


JESSE TREE SCRIPTURES (The symbols are only suggestions)
December 1Creation: Gen. 1:1-31; 2:1-4 Symbols: sun, moon, stars, animals, earth
December 2Adam and Eve: Gen. 2:7-9, 18-24 Symbols: tree, man, woman
December 3Fall of Man: Gen. 3:1-7 and 23-24 Symbols: tree, serpent, apple with bite
December 4Noah: Gen. 6:5-8, 13-22; 7:17, 23, 24; 8:1, 6-22 Symbols: ark, animals, dove, rainbow
December 5Abraham: Gen. 12:1-3 Symbols: torch, sword, mountain
December 6Isaac: Gen. 22:1-14 Symbols: bundle of wood, altar, ram in bush
December 7Jacob: Gen. 25:1-34; 28:10-15 Symbols: kettle, ladder
December 8Joseph: Gen. 37:23-28; 45:3-15 Symbols: bucket, well, silver coins, tunic
December 9Moses: Ex. 2:1-10 Symbols: baby in basket, river and rushes
December 10Samuel: 1 Sam. 3:1-18 Symbols: lamp, temple
December 11Jesse: 1 Sam. 16:1-13 Symbols: crimson robe, shepherd's staff
December 12David: 1 Sam. 17:12-51 Symbols: slingshot, 6-pointed star
December 13Solomon: 1 Kings 3:5-14, 16-28 Symbols: scales of justice, temple, two babies and sword
December 14Joseph: Matt. 1:18-25 Symbols: hammer, saw, chisel, angle
December 15Mary: Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38 Symbols: lily, crown of stars, pierced heart
December 16John the Baptist: Mark 1:1-8 Symbols: shell with water, river
On December 17, the Church begins to intensify the preparation for Christmas with the use of the "O" Antiphons during the Liturgy of the Hours. The symbols for the Jesse Tree from December 17 to 23 are based on the "O" Antiphons.
December 17Jesus is Wisdom: Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus in old Bibles) 24:2; Wisdom 8:1 Symbols: oil lamp, open book
December 18Jesus is Lord: Ex. 3:2; 20:1 Symbols: burning bush, stone tablets
December 19Jesus is Flower of Jesse: Isaiah 11:1-3 Symbols: flower, plant with flower
December 20Jesus is Key of David: Isaiah 22:22 Symbols: key, broken chains
December 21Jesus is the Radiant Dawn: Psalm 19:6-7 (in older Bibles this will be Psalm 18) Symbols: sun rising or high in sky
December 22Jesus is King of the Gentiles: Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20 Symbols: crown, scepter
December 23Jesus is Emmanuel: Isaiah 7:14; 33:22 Symbols: tablets of stone, chalice and host
December 24Jesus is Light of the World: John 1:1-14 Symbols: candle, flame, sun

Activity Source: Jesse Tree Kit, A by Betsy Walter, Pauline Books and Media, Boston, MA, 1983


*The Jesse Tree is named for Jesse, the father of King David*


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