JESSE LINKS AND INFO
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This Page: Jesse Tree Info
The Links

Note:
Some of our first Jesse Tree Symbols are now being uploaded.
Watch this page for additional links.

The Jesse Tree

There was an
old custom in Europe
and early America of hanging
symbolic ornaments on a Christmas tree
during Advent - ornaments which represented the
Messianic prophecies - often with the prophecies included
within the ornaments. For instance, a Lion of Judah ornament might
represent one of the Davidic prophecies. This tree was gradually assembled
during the days of Advent. It was called the Jesse Tree, named after the
father of King David. The Messiah was prophesied to be a descendant
of David, which is the Tribe of Judah -
the royal line of Israel.

Some Jesse Tree Links and Book Info:

Jesse Tree Info

Jesse Trees can trace the Line of the Messiah in one of at least three ways, all of which are fascinating:

Some of the Jesse Tree web pages listed below emphasize the lineage, or "family tree," of the Messiah, rather than the actual Messianic prophecies. They show the line of decent from Adam or Abraham, to Jesus of Nazareth. They sometimes will also show the significance of the relationship.

Other Jesse Tree projects emphasize major Old Testament themes, events, or covenants, rather than simply pointing to the specific prophecies about the Messiah. They show various interpretations, theological points of view, doctrines relating to Messianic prophecies.

My Jesse Tree traces many, but not all, of the Old Testament prophecies about the First Advent, or First Coming, of the Messiah of Israel. When you click on a candle of the tree, you will be taken to another page (such as this one) on a "sister website" of ours to view the specific OT (Old Testament) prophecy for that candle, along with a colorful illustration.
No interpretations are offered. You are left to decide for yourself the meaning or significance. However, a New Testament fulfillment page (such as this one) for each prophecy has been gradually added to the site. Watch for those links at the end of each OT prophecy.

Please see Footnote 1 on Jesse Tree Symbols.

In reality, all of the methods of constructing a Jesse Tree that are used lead to the same One - in one way or another!
There is also the subject of the Messianic Prophecies of the OT which point to the Second Coming of the Messiah. Christians understand, because of Jesus' teachings and resurrection from the dead, that He would be coming back to earth again to complete His mission, at the end of time. Some rabbis have thought, with only the Old Testament to consider, that there might be two Messiahs coming, because of the two seemingly contradictory descriptions of Him - one as a Victim, and one as a Conguerer.
Jesus cleared all this up, for those who would listen to Him. Instead of two Messiahs, there would be One, who would come to Earth twice! A Jesse Tree leading to His Second Coming, of which Jesus spoke so much about in the NT, would be interesting to construct. These would be the prophecies which describe Messiah as a Conquering and Reigning King, rather than the Humble and Suffering Servant, which He fulfilled during His first Advent.
An example of a Second Advent prophecy would be Psalms 2:8 - and Isaiah 11, which is included in the prophecies used already (such as the Peaceable Kingdom theme of the lion, lamb, and wolf lying down together). Apocalyptic Christian writers, such as Hal Lindsey, Grant Jeffrey, or Dr. Charles Stanley often refer to the "Second Coming," or "End-Times" prophecies (from both the Old and New Testaments); so these are generally more well known than the prophecies pertaining to the First Advent of the Messiah.

Footnotes
Footnote 1 - Jesse Tree Symbols:
All types of Jesse Trees are enjoyable, educational, and inspirational to do. This year, we have gradually begun adding symbols for you to use, should you decide to make a real Jesse Tree in your home or church. Our symbols will reflect the type of Jesse Tree that is used on this website. For the other types of Jesse Tree symbols, many of the links provided on this page will give you. Watch this page for a new link to our page of Jesse Tree Symbols.
Footnote 2 -

The Links:

Jesse Tree Symbols:
Instructions | 1 | 1b | 2 | 2b | 3 | 3b

Jesse Tree Stained Glass Panel
Thirteenth/Fourteenth Century, Germany
Metropolitan Museum of Art, Medieval Art

Medieval Saint-Denis: Jesse Tree Window: Christ Panel
Images of Medieval Art and Architecture, France: Benedictine Abbey Church of Saint-Denis, Twelfth-Century Windows: Jesse Tree Window, Christ Panel
Comparative Iconography
(other Jesse Trees)

The Jesse Tree
Biblical and Theological Resources
from Christian Resource Inst. (CRI)
Fridge Art: The Jesse Tree
Domestic-Church.Com
Making a Jesse Tree
Jesse Tree Table
Advent - The Jesse Tree
The Ornaments
The Liturgical Year
Make a Jesse Tree

Books:

Richard III Society - 15th Century Life - Pastimes II:
Richard Osberg, "The Jesse Tree in the 1432 London Entry of Henry VI: Messianic Kingship and the Rule of Justice," Journal of Medieval and Renaissance Studies 16 (1986): 213-32; Robert Withington, English Pageantry (2 vols., Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1918-20) 1:141-47.

Books - J:
JESSE TREE, THE - A CUTOUT BOOK 000969, gr6-a CreatCurric 48pg b 6.00, Traditional Jesse Tree symbols can be used as patterns.

JESSE TREE: STORIES AND SYMBOLS OF ADVENT 000970, gr8-a Fortress 63pp 1966 b 6.00, Provides Bible verse, prayer and Jesse tree symbol for each day of Advent.

Advent Stories and Activities
Advent Stories And Activities; Meeting Jesus Through The Jesse Tree, By: Neuberger, Anne E., Softcover, 96 pages,
This creative resource offers 24 ancient stories and symbols to mark the days before Christmas. It gives clear directions for creating seven different types of Jesse Trees to accommodate a variety of class and home settings, time constraints, and abilities. Pub Date: August 1997 Pub: Twenty-third Publications

Advent Jesse Tree; Devotions For Children And Adults To Prepare For The Coming Of Christ-Christm, By: Lambert, Dean Meador; Lambert, Dean M., Hardcover, Pub Date: May 1991, Pub: Abingdon Press

Liturgical Press:
Family Celebrations: Advent and Christmas, Jane Beaton, Wanda Doppler, Greg Gallagher, and Betty Hardy, Paper, 64 pp., 5 1/2 x 8 1/4, Rights: World, 0-8146-1389-6, $2.95, p.19-20, discusses history of the Jesse Tree in Church art in the Middle Ages, on candlesticks and in stained glass windows, telling the story of Jesus' ancestry; discusses how to make one.

Amazon.com - The Jesse Tree -
The Advent Jesse Tree : Devotions for Children and Adults to Prepare for the Coming of the Christ Child at Christmas -- by Dean Meador Lambert $11.60

The Jesse Tree : Stories and Symbols of Advent -- by Raymond Anderson, Georgene Anderson; $5.99

Advent Stories and Activities : Meeting Jesus Through the Jesse Tree -- by Anne E. Neuberger; $10.36

Let's Make a Jesse Tree by Darcy James The Advent Jesse Tree : Devotions for Children and Adults to Prepare for the Coming of the Christ Child at Christmas by Dean Meador Lambert $11.60

Advent Stories and Activities : Meeting Jesus Through the Jesse Tree by Anne E. Neuberger $10.36

The Jesse Tree : Stories and Symbols of Advent by Raymond Anderson, Georgene Anderson $5.99

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:" (Isa 11:1 KJV)
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. (Isa.11:10-KJV)
And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. (Rom.15:12-KJV)

O come, O come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, thou Root of Jesse's tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Return to:
The Jesse Tree

Some Holiday Links

Days of Christmas

Abby's 12 Days of Christmas

Josephine and Jonah

Entrance Page
to The Jesse Tree: Go listen to...
The Carol of the Bells

The Jesse Tree
Advent Page

O Holy Night

Winter Panorama

Going Home for

Christmas at Gid's Place

Abigail's Christmas

Messianic Prophecies
of the Old Testament Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Prophecies Fulfilled
in the New Testament: Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

A Holiday Medley of Christmas Carols


Annie's Christmas

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

Giving Thanks

For the Beauty
of the Earth

For the Beauty of the Earth

The following group of links are to pages on other web sites:

Some Special Links

10 Commandments

I Stand at the Door...

Be Not Afraid

Jonah's Prayer

Wordless Book

Pray for the Peace of...

Inspirations

Happiness is a Choice

Missing Heaven by 18 Inches

Some Other Recommended Links

Footprints in the Sands of Time

Shakespeare through Music
Medieval - Renaissance

Shakespeare and Music

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Sandy's Weather Links

Luc: Lost in America Series

Updated: 11/10/03

Relocated Links:

Some of these pages are external links:

Christmas Medley	Thanksgiving Med	The Jesse Tree	'Tis So Sweet	Beautiful Star...
Journey Home	For the Beauty		Wisemen Still...	O Holy Night
Salvation	I Stand at the Door		10 Commandments	Recommittment
Annie's Pages	Recipe for Contentment		Backsliding Children	The Way Home
Abby's Pages	Gid's Place		American Vine	Inspirations
Sign New Guestbook	View New Guestbook	Carol of the Bells	Spiritual Warfare	Family Links
My Jesus...	Feedback Form	Intro/Index Page	Great Commission	Inspirations/Meditations
Jesse Symbols	Jesse Symbols 2	Jesse Symbols 3	Jesse Tree Links	Printing Tips