The Jesse Tree: An Advent Celebration

Many families mark the days of advent with a traditional advent calendar, opening a tiny
door for each day leading up to Christmas. The Jesse Tree Advent tradition also marks
each day from the first Sunday in Advent to Christmas. But instead of little doors, the
Jesse Tree uses ornaments to highlight moments in the Biblical storyline from Creation to
Cross. In our home, the Jesse Tree is a tiny foot and a half discount store Christmas tree.
On it, we hang a laminated paper ornament for each day of Advent.

We all have a family tree–branches filled with mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers,
grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Jesus has a family tree as well. In Isaiah 11:1 we read, “A
shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.”
Jesse was the father of David, Israel’s greatest king. And it was from David’s lineage that
Jesus came.

The Jesse Tree is a way we can remember Jesus’s family heritage. Each ornament on the
tree represents the story of a person in Jesus’ family line. As the symbol is hung on the
tree, a Bible passage is read. The stories help us remember Jesus’s family and our place in
it. As we read the Word, we remember that Jesus came to save his family. We remember
our adoption into God’s family. And as we teach the next generation, we pray that God will
include them in this family as well by giving them living faith.
How to use this project packet and devotional guide
1. Decorate the circular ornaments.
You can use colored pencils or markers or crayons. Be creative and have fun!

2. Each night during advent, hang one ornament on the tree.

Read the verses referenced on that ornament and the devotional text included here.
If you start after November 27, that’s ok! Just catch up by doing more than one per
night.

Adapted for Sojourn Community Church from “Jesse Tree Family Devotions” Reformed
Church in America.
Accessed at https://www.rca.org/resources/jesse-tree-family-devotions
November 27: The Stump of Jesse
Read: Isaiah 11:1-9
Can you name some of the people who are part of your family tree?
Who is the Branch that will grow on Jesse’s tree? It’s Jesus!
What does this passage say that Jesus would be like when he came?
Why is Jesus better than anyone who came before him?

November 28: The Tower

Read: Habakkuk 2:1-4
Habakkuk was a prophet who wanted God to bring justice in the
land. He got tired of waiting, so he went up to a tall tower, told God
he was angry, and waited. God did answer. He told Habakkuk that he
would do things for Israel that he would not believe even if he were
told. Can you think of a time when it was hard to wait for something
good? What do these verses teach us about waiting? When God
makes a promise to us, will he ever break it?
November 29: The World
Read: Genesis 1:26-31
What were the first people like? Being made in God’s image means
that people get to show the whole world—all the creatures and all
creation—what God is like.
Can you name some of the creatures in these verses?
How can we show the whole world God’s kingly love?

November 30: Snake and Fruit

Read: Genesis 3:1-19
God made a beautiful garden for the man and woman. He showed
them his love by giving them everything they needed. But Satan
tempted them to eat the one fruit that would kill them. Why was the
fruit so tempting? How are you tempted to sin against God? Pray
that God will help you remember his goodness and love when you
are tempted. Pray that he will help you obey him.
December 1: The Rainbow
Genesis 6:11-14; 7:17-8:3; 9:8-13
Why did God decide to flood the entire earth? Why did he choose to
save Noah and his family? Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
It was not because of his obedient life. What did God use to save
Noah’s family? What did God put in the sky to help Noah remember
the promise?
Pray that God will help us remember his promises.

December 2: Abraham’s Tent

Genesis 12:1-7
Have you ever had to move to a new house or a new city? What would
it feel like to leave your old place, your school, and your friends?
How old was Abraham when God asked him to move? How do you
think Abraham felt? What did God promise to Abraham?
Pray that God will help us trust and follow him even when it is
difficult.
December 3: The Star
Genesis 15:1-6
God promised to give Abraham a child in his family for every star in
the sky. Can you count all of the stars? How many do you think there
are? Did you know that Jesus was a part of Abraham’s family? Did
you know that God makes everyone who trusts in Jesus to be a part
of Abraham’s family too? He does.
Thank you, God, for making us a part of your big family.

December 4: The Crib

Genesis 21:1-7
What do you want more than anything else? Sarah wanted a baby,
and gave it to her. God doesn’t give us everything we want, but he
gives us all we need—and more! Sarah was so happy with her new
baby that she laughed, and she said, “All my friends will laugh too.”
Thank God for all of the wonderful gifts he has given to you.
December 5: The Ram
Genesis 22:1-14
Have you ever had to give away something that you really loved?
What did God ask Abraham to give up in this story? Did Abraham kill
Isaac? No! God provided a substitute sacrifice. Did you know that
God provides a substitute sacrifice for us? God loved the world in
this way. He gave his only son, Jesus, so that whoever believes him
would not die but have eternal life.

December 6: Jacob’s Ladder

Genesis 28:10-22
Jacob was running away from his family, because he had sinned
against his brother. What did God show Jacob in his dream? What
were the angels doing? God showed Jacob that he was with him and
that he loved him even though he had sinned. How do you know that
Jesus is always with you and always loves you?
December 7: Joseph’s Coat
Genesis 37:1-36
How was Joseph mistreated by his brothers in the story? Do you
ever feel like others bully you or treat you badly? The good thing is
that Jesus knows all about being betrayed and mistreated by the
people closes to him. But he still loves people like Joseph’s brothers.
Thank Jesus for forgiving sinners.

December 8: The Law

Deuteronomy 5:1-22
What rules helps your family live together and be happy? God gave
rules to his family to help them live together in harmony. Can you
name all ten of the commandments? Can anyone keep God’s law? No
one but Jesus can keep God’s law perfectly.
Thank you, Jesus, for your perfect obedience. Give us your Holy
Spirit to help us obey your law and love others.
December 9: The Scarlet Rope
Joshua 2:1-21
Did you know that there were people in Jesus’s family tree that were
not Israelites? Why was Rahab included in God’s family? Rahab
trusted God, and she helped the Israelite men when they came to
spy out the land. What did Rahab hang from her window so that the
Israelites would remember to protect her?
Tell about a time when you had courage to help someone.

December 10: Gathering Grain

Ruth 1:15-2:3
Why did Ruth choose to stay with Naomi and help her? Because
she loved her. Ruth and Naomi had lost all the people they loved.
Naomi’s two sons--one of them was Ruth’s husband--had died, and
Naomi’s husband had died too. Ruth could have stayed in her own
country with her own family, but she chose to go to Bethlehem with
Naomi. She chose to follow Naomi’s God, the true God.
Who loves you and chooses to take care of you? Thank them, and
thank God for sending Jesus to love and care for us.
December 11: The Anointing Oil
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Why did God choose David to be king? Was it because he was the
biggest and strongest? No. God chose David to be king because he
was getting his people ready for an even greater King. King Jesus
would not look like much at first. He would be born in a stable and
not a palace. He would be laid in a manger and not a crib with lots of
toys. Father, help us to remember that you have chosen the weak and
poor things of this world as your own. Help us not to brag about our
bigness but only about Jesus. Amen.

December 12: The Crown

2 Samuel 5:1-5
David was chosen by God to be king when he was a boy, but he didn’t
become king until he was thirty years old. David was a good king
because God guided him and because David listened to God. Being
a king is an important job. Sometimes David fought wars and made
other hard choices, because kings must protect their people like
shepherds protect their sheep. King David knew that God was his
good shepherd. Lord, help us to trust you as our provider and protec-
tor. Watch over us and protect us, holy God. You are our true king.
December 13: The Altar
1 Kings 18:17-24, 36-39
The people of Israel had forgotten to worship God. What was the
name of the gods that they worshiped instead? Who was the prophet
God sent to remind the people about the true God? What happened
in the story? Our God is a great God and the only true God.
Father, help us to praise you as the only true God.

December 14: The Royal Scepter

Esther 4
Why was Esther afraid to go before the king at first? Can you think of
a time when you needed to brave? Esther bravely talked to the king
in order to save her people. Jesus prays for us and talks to God the
Father in heaven.
Thank you, Jesus, for being our perfect representative.
December 15: Peace Lily
Isaiah 9:2-7
What are some names for Jesus in this passage? What will he be
called? Why is Jesus better than any other ruler on earth? Jesus will
bring peace instead of war to the whole world.
Jesus, thank you for bringing peace.

December 16: The Wolf and the Lamb

Isaiah 11:6-9
Before Adam and Eve sinned, all of the animals got along with each
other. There was no danger. God created a peaceful kingdom, but sin
changed things. Someday God will restore peace to the world. There
will be no hunger or fear, and all of the animals will get along again.
They will not hurt each other, and we will not hurt them. In a peace-
ful world, all of God’s children will be at peace too. There will be no
more war and no more pain. What a wonderful world that will be!
Come Lord Jesus and bring peace to your creation.
December 17: Jonah and the Great Fish
Jonah 3:1-5
Jonah had a hard time believing that God wanted to save the people
of Nineveh. They were Israel’s enemies. But Jesus tells us to love our
enemies. And when Jonah finally preached to the people of Nineveh,
they turned away from their sin.
Father, help us to love all people—even our enemies. Amen.

December 18: Lions

Daniel 6
Have you ever chosen to do something you knew was right even
though you knew it might be difficult? Daniel worshiped and prayed
to God even though it might cost him his own life. It was against the
law for Daniel to worship God, but Daniel knew that God is the only
true God, and he would not stop praying to Him.
Lord, help us to always obey you even when it may hurt.
December 19: Little Town of Bethlehem
Micah 5:1-5
Do you like surprises? God does things that surprise us. God chose
the small town of Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus. In Bible
times, most rulers in important families were born in big cities, but
Jesus was born into an ordinary family in a small village.
What does the prophet Micah tell us about the prophet who will
come from Bethlehem?

December 20: Zechariah and Elizabeth

Luke 1:5-25
Zechariah and Elizabeth honored God, and God loved them, but
they did not have a child. One day while Zechariah was working in
the temple, an angel brought him a message from God. What did the
angel say to Zechariah? Why was it hard to believe? Sometimes it is
difficult to believe God’s good news.
Father, prepare our hearts to believe the good news about your Son.
December 21: Mary (Heart)
Luke 1: 26-38
It didn’t seem possible! Mary was just a young girl, but the angel
announced, “You will be a mother, and the baby will be God’s son.”
Mary was not chosen because she was good, smart, or strong. God
showed great grace and kindness to Mary by choosing her for this
important job.
Father, give us great grace and turn our hearts toward you. Help us to
pray like Mary: “Let it be according to your will.”

December 22: Joseph (Carpenter Tools)

Luke 2:1-5
Jesus had an earthly father named Joseph. He was a carpenter. God
sent an angel to talk to Joseph in a dream. The angel explained that
God had chosen Mary, and that Mary’s baby would be very special.
When Joseph woke up, he knew that he and Mary were a part of
God’s great rescue plan. The angel promised, “The baby will save
his people from their sins.” God has come near to bring salvation.
Father, help us to trust you as our Savior.
December 23: John the Baptist (Shell)
Matthew 3:1-6
Zechariah and Elizabeth’s son grew up to be John the Baptist. He
was Jesus’ cousin. God chose him to tell the people about Jesus.
John wanted people to know that Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior
that God had promised the people so many years before. He wanted
them to be ready to believe in Jesus. John wanted the people to
remember God, and he baptized them in the river if they confessed
their sins and turned away from them.
Father, forgive our sins. Help us to trust and follow Jesus.

December 24: The Journey (Sandals)

Luke 2:1-5
Sometimes taking a trip is fun. But sometimes when we are on a
journey, we experience something difficult like a wrong turn or a
flat tire. Joseph and Mary didn’t expect to go to Bethlehem, but the
ruler of their country commanded it. Can you list some of the dif-
ficult things on Mary and Joseph’s journey? The events of Mary and
Joseph’s journey were not expected, but they were all part of God’s
plan. God worked out the details a long time before. God, help us to
trust your plan.