Advent Activity - The Jesse Tree

University of Dayton ^ | November 2002 | Rev. Johann G. Roten

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The Jesse Tree
Rev. Johann G. Roten, SM

Sometimes called the root of Jesse or radix Jesse in Latin, the Jesse tree is a visual representation of Jesus' genealogy which dates back to the father of David who was Jesse.  The biblical references used habitually to establish Christ's descent from David are the following:

• Isaiah 6,14; 11,1; 53,2
• Num 24,17
• Mat 1,1-16
• Lk 3,23-38
• Rev 22,16

In sacred art Mary is also depicted as part of Christ's family tree named after Jesse.

The Fathers of the Church and Latin hymns refer to the tree of Jesse not only when speaking about the line of David (radix Jesse) but also when speaking of Mary (virga ex radice = branch or offshoot of the root of Jesse) and Jesus (flos ex virga = flower that blossoms on the branch).  Based on these literary sources, the visual rendering of the Jesse tree shows Jesse in reclined and slumbering position, a tree growing out of his body on whose branches a changing and diverse group of ancestors can be observed.

The tree which is patterned after the tree of life in paradise and the cross as the definitive tree of life habitually shows a series of kings of the Solomonic line, or prophets and evangelists.  The top of the tree is composed of Mary, Jesus and angels, sometimes with reference to the gifts of the Spirit.  But variations are frequent. The artistic motif of the Jesse tree is known beginning in the 11th century and seems to have disappeared in the 16th century.  During the time of bloom it found many and diversified ways of realization from illuminations to bronze doors (for example, St. Zeno, Verona).  The example here presented is taken from a psalter of the 13th century, the so-called Ingeborg Psalter (1210) conserved today in Chantilly, Paris.

The tree is highly stylized and of sophisticated ornamentation.  Jesse is lying on his bed more pensive than slumbering.  He wears the typical Jewish hat.  From the mid-section of his body or rather behind it, the trunk of the tree rises to a height of four levels or tiers each once of them in the shape of a chalice.

They show in ascending order [from left to right] Abraham, David, Mary and Jesus Christ.  It is the royal line.  For this reason all figures except Christ wear crowns.

Abraham	David	Mary	Jesus Christ

They are flanked by Old testament figures on both sides.  We have on the left: Malachi standing next to Jesse followed by Daniel and Isaiah in ascending order.

Malachi	Daniel	Isaiah

To the right of Jesse we have Aaron, Ezekiel, and an exception to the group of prophets, a feminine figure which represents the Sybil of Cumae.

Aaron	Ezekiel	Sybil of Cumae

These figures are in all likelihood characters taken from a mystery play, the so called mystery of Rouen.  They present, with the exception of Aaron who is designated as high priest and holds the blooming staff, open scrolls with part of their vision about the coming Savior (not necessarily corresponding to the exact Scripture quote).  The Cumaean Sybil reminds the reader of the finiteness of all creation.  Ezekiel speaks about the closed door (reference to Mary's virginity) through which God alone will proceed.  Malachi proclaims the grandeur of God's name, whereas Daniel in his visions of the four beasts celebrates God's definitive victory over evil.  Isaiah announces the rule of Immanuel.  The dove next to the prophet's head indicates the presence and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ, who is enthroned at the top of the tree which, in fact, is not a tree but an edifice symbolizing the house of David, rules as the Pantokrator both blessing (right hand) and judging (book in the left hand).  He is surrounded by two worshiping angels and the seven doves, symbols of the seven gifts of the Spirit: "The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord" (Isaiah 11,2-3).

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For a family activity!

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Thanks for the link!

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JESSE TREE

During Advent, biblical persons representing the ancestors of Jesus, either in faith or bloodline, are gradually added onto a tree or branch, named after the father of David,. The symbols such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesse, David, Solomon, Joseph and Mary can be drawn, cut out or purchased.

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A Symbolic Jesse Tree

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A Symbolic Jesse Tree

by Catherine Fournier

"But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse and from his roots a bud shall blossom" (Is 11:1) This ancient Old Testament quotation refers to one of Christ's ancestors. There are two versions of the Jesse Tree. One uses a Scripture reading for each day of the Advent season, representing each reading with an illustrated disk hung on a 'tree' shape. For a description of this type of Jesse tree, click here.

This Jesse tree is an abbreviated version which uses only a few illustrations to represent the genealogy and symbolism of the coming of Christ. Each illustration in this Jesse tree is a symbol for some aspect of the Messianic prophecies. Choose which symbols and names your family thinks best symbolize the story of Jesus, or use the suggestions below, which come from the EWTN web site.

The Sun:

Just as the natural sun gives light and life to all upon whom its rays fall so Christ, the Rising Dawn, dispels darkness and brings eternal life and light.

The Tablets of the Law:

The Law of Moses as symbolized in the tablets which God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai was fulfilled in Christ Who brings a law of love.

The Key of David:

The key is the emblem of authority and power. Christ is the Key of the House of David Who opens to us the full meaning of the scriptural prophecies, and reopens for all mankind the gate of Heaven.

Bethlehem:

Seven hundred years before Christ's birth, Micheas prophesied that the Savior would be born in the town of Bethlehem. Bethlehem, which means "House of Bread," was appropriately designated as the birthplace of Christ, the Bread from Heaven.

The Root of Jesse:

The flower which springs up from the root of Jesse is another figure of Christ. Isaiah prophesied that the Savior would be born from the root of Jesse, that He would sit upon the throne of David, and in Christ this prophecy is fulfilled.

The Star of David:

The six-pointed star is the emblem of the Royal House of David even to this day. Christ Who is born of the House of David, can truly claim this emblem as His own.

Jacob's Ladder:

In a vision, Jacob saw a ladder reaching from heaven to earth, with angels descending and ascending. Christ, the Incarnate God, is the Ladder reuniting earth to heaven, mankind to God.

Jonas in the Whale:

As Jonas remained in the whale three days, so Christ remained three days in the earth after His death.

The Temple:

The Temple was God's dwelling place among the Jews of the Old Testament. His new Presence is within us.

The Crown and Sceptre:

The crown and sceptre signify Christ's universal kingship. As we sing in the fifth O Antiphon, Christ is not only the King of the Jewish nation, but the "Desired One of all," the cornerstone which unites both Jew and Gentile.

The Sword of Judith:

Judith of the Old Testament, who killed with a sword the leader of the Assyrian army, saved the Israelite nation. She prefigured Mary whose "Fiat" brought salvation to all mankind.

The Burning Bush:

God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush, which burned but was not consumed, a symbol of the Virgin Birth of Christ.

Noah's Ark:

A savior, Noah preserved the natural life of all within the Ark; Christ brings supernatural life to mankind and preserves that life within His Mystical Body the Church.

The Ark of the Covenant:

We address Mary as the Ark of the Covenant because she, like the Ark of the Old Testament, contained the most precious Gift of the New Law

The Altar of Holocaust:

Sacrifice was offered daily on the Jewish altar of holocaust--a type of the Christian altar and the daily sacrifice of the Mass.

The Apple:

"O Happy Fault, whereby we have merited so great a Redeemer."

The Paschal Lamb:

At the yearly Pasch, the Jews sacrificed a new, unblemished lamb in thanksgiving for all that God had done for them and as an atonement offering for all their sins. This sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb was fulfilled in Christ, the "Lamb who takes away the sins of the world."

The Pillar of Fire:

In the Old Testament, God appeared in a pillar of fire to lead His people through the desert, as Christ leads us through the desert of life.

Manna:

The manna which the Jews ate in the desert for forty years was a symbol of Christ, the true Bread which descended from heaven.

Whichever version you and your family decide to use, the Jesse Tree is a powerful means of bringing the hope and expectation of the prophecies to your home and family.

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Stories of Advent—Making Your Jesse Tree

Person Scripture Symbol
Adam and Eve Genesis 3:1-24 an apple
Noah Genesis 6:11—9:17 (or 8:21—9:17) ark or rainbow
(or Genesis 6:5-9, 7:7-16, 8:13-17, 9:12-16)
Abraham and Sarah Genesis 12:1-7, 15:1-6 camel, tent or star
Isaac Genesis 22:1-19 ram
Rebecca Genesis 25:19-34; and 27 a well
Jacob Genesis 28:10-22 or 32: 25-31 a ladder
Rachel and Leah Genesis 29:15-30 a veil
Joseph Genesis 37:3-4 and 17-36; 50:15-21 coat of many colors
(or Genesis 37:1—45:28)
Moses Exodus 3:1-15 bush
Exodus 20:1-21 Ten Commandments (tablets)
Rahab Joshua 2:1-21 rope
Joshua Joshua 6:1-20 trumpet
Deborah Judges 4:1-16 palm tree or tent peg & mallet
Gideon Judges 7:1-8, 15-20 torch
Samson Judges 13:1-5; 15:14-17 jawbone
Ruth Ruth chapters 1—4 anchor (for faithfulness) or
grains of wheat
Hannah 1 Samuel 1:1-20, 24-28; 2:18-20 small robe
Samuel 1 Samuel 3:1-19; 16:1-13 oil
David 1 Samuel 16:1-16 stringed instrument or
slingshot or crown (for king)
Solomon 1 Kings 3:4-15 crown or scepter
Elijah 1 Kings 19:3-13; 2 Kings 2:1-5, 9-13 chariot
Jonah Jonah 1:1-17; 2:10; 3:1-3 whale
Isaiah Isaiah 9:1-6 and 11:1-9 branch or lion and lamb
Ezekiel Ezekiel 37:1-14 and 24-28 bones
Esther Esther 2:17-18; 3:8-15; 4:7-16; 7:10 crown
Daniel Daniel 1:1-4; 6:1-28; 7:13-14 lion
Malachi Malachi 4:1-6 sun
Elizabeth Luke 1:5-25 a home, angel, temple or altar
John the Baptist Luke 1:57-80 shell and water or a reed
Joseph Matthew 1:18-25 hammer or saw
Mary Luke 1:26-38, 39-56 lily
Luke 2:1-14 manger

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Introduce the Jesse Tree Activity

Many of us have photographs of parents, grandparents, great-aunts and uncles, and great-grandparents. Some we actually knew, many we know only through stories. People who make up our family tree hold a fascination for us.

So, too, the people who make up our family of faith tell us much about who we are and how we are related to God. As Christians we are part of the extended family of Jesus of Nazareth. His family tree is the story of salvation history, the story of a people chosen, spared and redeemed by God.

Matthew’s genealogy (Mt 1:1-17), which we hear at Christmastime each year, tells us that Jesus was the son of David, Israel’s greatest king, and back even further, the son of Abraham, the first patriarch of the Hebrew people, the first person called by God. Out of this family line, God would take flesh and live among the people of earth.

From medieval times, Christians have been fascinated with visual representations of the family tree of Jesus. A stained glass window at Chartres Cathedral in France, built in the early 13th century, depicts a Jesus tree, representing the family tree of Jesse, the father of King David, that blossoms in the birth of Jesus the Messiah, the “Son of David.” This ancient tradition of the Jesse tree was revived in the mid-20th century as an Advent practice.
(From The Jesse Tree by Diane Houdek. Catholic Update, November 1977, C1197)

Continue with…

The Jesse tree represents Jesus’ family tree. 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 on the Jesse tree tell of Jesus’ ancestors, and of the events leading to Jesus’ birth. While it is hard to establish when and where the custom of the Jesse tree began, it most likely started in the Middle Ages as a way to teach Bibles stories. 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. This is why a bare branch, rather than an evergreen, is used.

Roots are important parts of a tree. As people, we need to know our roots, as well. Often, we run from one thing to another without reflecting on where we have been or where we are going. As we create a Jesse tree during this Advent season, let us pause and look at the great people of faith upon whose shoulders we stand.

To give the group a sense of Jesus’ family tree, read the genealogy of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 1:1-17. (Do your best with all the names.) Make the connection between the Jesse Tree activity and the genealogy of Jesus. Note how many of the people in the genealogy are included on the handout, Stories of Advent—Making Your Jesse Tree.

Activity Option: Your Family Tree
To illustrate what a genealogy looks like, consider drawing your own family tree on a sheet of newsprint or poster board and presenting it to the group at this time.

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Family Activity Ping!

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[GatorGirl]

Thank you, Salvation! I have to go get my Advent candles today. I think I'll pick up some Sculpey too and spend the afternoon with my kids creating Jesse Tree ornaments. What a wonderful opportunity to expand on the season of Advent! GG

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It is a neat idea, isn't it?

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Ping to some Christmas symbols.

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Advent Reflections for All -- 2003

The Advent Calendar

The Advent Wreath

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I was going to start a new thread about The Jesse Tree, but there is so much information here too!

So I will just add to it!

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Getting a little bit of a late start here for 2005, my apologies.

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CREATION November 27 Symbols: Sun, Moon, Stars, Earth During this Advent season we review our salvation history, meditating on God's promise of a Savior. We begin with Creation, the birth of life, beginning of time. In the creation of world and man, God gave the first and universal witness to His almighty love and His wisdom, the first proclamation of the "plan of His loving goodness," which finds its goal in the new creation of Christ. Recommended Readings: Genesis 1-2

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The Jesse Tree

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ADAM AND EVE November 28 Symbols: Tree, Man and Woman Adam and Eve are the first ancestors of the human race. Christ is called the "second" or "new Adam" because He ushered in the new creation by forgiving sin and restoring humanity to the grace of God's friendship lost by original sin. Mary, because she is the mother of the eternal Son of God made man, is called the "new Eve," the "mother of the living" in the order of grace. Recommended Readings: Genesis 2:7-9; 18-24

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FALL OF MAN November 29 Symbols: Tree with Fruit or Apple The parents of the human race, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God's command in the Garden of Eden, thereby commiting the original sin, resulting in the closing of the gates of Heaven to mankind. Even after this sin, man was not abandoned by God. God promises a Messiah and Redeemer: "I will put emnity between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel (Gen 3:14)." He tells us of a "New Adam" who will have victory over sin. This victory of Christ has given us greater blessings than those which sin had taken from us. God permits evil in order to draw forth some greater good: "O Happy Fault, whereby we have merited so great a Redeemer (Exsultet)." Recommended Readings: Genesis 3:1-7, 9, 14-29, 23-24

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NOAH November 30 Symbols: Animals, Dove, Rainbow When Noah finally left the Ark and settled on dry land, he built an altar to worship the Lord who had saved him. God placed a rainbow in the sky as token of his resolve to never visit such a disaster over the face of the earth again. Noah was a savior, preserving the natural life of all within the Ark; Christ bring supernatural life to mankind and preserves that life within His Mystical Body, the Church. Recommended Readings: Genesis 6:5-8; 7:11-16; 8:15-16; 9:12-13