Jesse Tree Stories
Advent is a time of waiting for the birthday of Jesus. We all love to get ready for birthdays. We celebrate them with family and friends. Christmas is Jesus’ birthday.
We will get ready by decorating Jesus’ family tree, the Jesse tree. Jesse was the father of King David, one of the ancestors of Jesus. We will decorate the Jesse tree with ornaments that remind us of the people who waited for Jesus to come. These people were good, holy people and have interesting stories! We will read a story and look at a symbol, something that will remind us of that person. Then we will hang that symbol on the tree, and read another story.
In these stories, we hear about God’s love and patience with his people over the centuries, a very long period of time. With the people in these stories, we experience God’s grace – his life and love in us.
1. Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-7)
God created Adam and Eve, the first man and woman. They lived in the Garden of Eden and had one rule from God: “Do not eat the fruit of the forbidden tree.” Adam and Eve were tempted, and made the choice to disobey God. God still loved Adam and Eve, but he had to punish them for disobeying him. He sent them out of the garden, and they had to work for their food. God also made a promise to Adam and Eve: He would always love them. We put an apple tree on the Jesse tree to remind us that even when we make bad choices, like Adam and Eve did, God loves us.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for loving us, even when we make bad choices.
2. Noah (Genesis 9:12-17)
Many people were disobeying God and this made God sad. There came a time when there was so much sin in the world that God had to find a way to remove sin from the world. So he asked Noah to build the ark and to save his own family, as well as the animals, because Noah and his family remembered God. Then God sent rain and the world flooded, and God destroyed all the people and animals that were not on the ark. When the water was gone, God sent a rainbow to show us that He won’t ever flood the world again. Today, we put a rainbow on the Jesse tree to remind us of Noah and the ark. Every time you see a rainbow, remember that God keeps his promises.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for keeping your promises and for rainbows.
3. Abraham (Genesis 12:1-7)
Sometimes God asks us to do things that are hard to do. God asks us to be good when it would be so much easier--and sometimes more fun--to be naughty. God asks us to go places and do things we'd rather not do. God asked Abraham to take a long trip, and to leave behind the place that he called home. But in return, God made promises to Abraham. God promised that Abraham would be blessed by God. Abraham still had problems and struggles, especially when he forgot to listen to God's directions, but God kept all of the promises made to Abraham. Most importantly, God was Abraham's friend forever. Today, we put a camel and a tent on the Jesse tree to remind us that Abraham obeyed God, leaving his home for strange lands, setting up tents wherever he stopped.
Prayer: Holy God, help us to obey you and do the things that you want us to do.
4. Sarah (Genesis 21:1-7)
Have you ever wanted something so much that you thought you would die if you didn't get it? It's so hard to be happy when we focus on the things we don't have, instead of the things we do have. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, wanted a baby more than anything, but even though she prayed a lot and tried everything she could think of, she didn't have a baby. As she got older she finally decided that God would not give her a child. But then God gave Sarah a son, and she named him Isaac. Sarah was very happy and grateful to God for giving her a wonderful son when she had given up on her dream. Today, we put a cradle on the Jesse tree, to remind us of Sarah, and how she prayed to God.
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for answering our prayers.
5. Rebecca (Genesis 24:10-20)
Abraham was looking for a wife for his son, Isaac, someone who was kind and generous. Abraham’s servant was traveling with 10 camels, and came to a well where Rebecca was filling her water jug. She offered a drink to Abraham’s servant, and gave water to all the camels, too. She saw an opportunity to do something kind, and swiftly went to work. She didn’t question or consider whether she was really needed; instead, she worked until the job of satisfying a whole herd of thirsty camels was completed. Rebecca became Isaac’s wife. Today, we put a well on the Jesse tree to remind us of Rebecca and her kind generosity.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to look for times and places where we can be of service, to be kind and helpful to others.
6. Jacob (Genesis 28:10-22)
Jacob, Isaac’s son, was feeling bad because he had been mean to his brother. He was running away, and stopped to rest. God gave him a dream. In the dream, there was a ladder going to heaven. God was at the top of the ladder. God told Jacob that He loved him and would take care of him always. Today, we put a ladder on the Jesse tree to remind us that God will always be with us just like Jacob.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for being our friend and always being with us.
7. Joseph (Genesis 37:1-36)
Jacob had twelve sons, one whose name was Joseph. Jacob gave Joseph a colored coat. This made his brothers feel bad so they were mean to him. They sold him to a man who made him a servant and even put him in prison. Later, he was set free and was given a very important job. While he was doing this job, he again met his brothers, who did not recognize him. Even though Joseph could have been mean to his brothers, he chose to help them. He knew that even though he had gone through some terrible times, God had been with him through everything, and God still expected him to do good things. Today, we put a brightly colored coat on the Jesse tree to remember that we need to be kind to others even when they are mean to us.
Prayer: God, help us to be kind to others just as you are kind and forgiving to us.
8. Moses (Exodus 34:28)
God wants us to be good to each other. God wants us to treat others the way that we want to be treated. To help us to understand how to care for each other, many years ago God gave Moses the ten best rules for living. These rules are called the Ten Commandments, and they are still good rules for us today. Not everybody likes to follow the rules. They think rules keep them from having fun. But God gave us the rules not as a punishment, but as a way of helping us to show God that we are thankful for what God has done for us. God wants us to do good, and will help us to do the right thing by guiding us to the right path. Today, we put the law tablets on the Jesse tree to remind us how important God’s laws are.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to obey your laws. Thank you for always forgiving and loving us.
9. Miriam (Exodus 15:20-21)
When the Hebrew people lived in Egypt a long time ago, they were very unhappy. They were slaves to the Egyptians and had to work very hard. Moses led God’s people out of slavery in Egypt. The Hebrew people were chased by the Egyptian soldiers to the banks of the Red Sea. They didn’t have boats. How could they cross? Moses went to the water’s edge, prayed to God, and lifted his rod over the sea. The wind blew hard on the waters of the Red Sea, and the water divided before their eyes. There was a wide pathway of damp sand between the two towering walls of water. It was a miracle! Moses, his older sister Miriam, and all the people hurried to get to the other side. And what happened to the Egyptian soldiers? The waters returned and rushed over them and their horses and chariots. Miriam picked up her tambourine and began to lead all the people in singing. She and the other women danced together on the banks of the Red Sea to show her happiness that God had protected all the Hebrew people. Today, we put a tambourine on the Jesse tree, as we remember Miriam, who celebrated with joy when God helped.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to catch and hold onto your love and strength when things are challenging.
10. Joshua (Joshua 6:1-15)
There was a city called Jericho where God’s people wanted to live, but it had a big wall all around it so they could not get in. But God told Joshua that He would help him take over the city. God told Joshua to blow his trumpet and march around the walls of Jericho. Joshua had faith that God could do it, and God made the walls fall down so His people had a place to live. God can do anything! Today, we put a horn on the Jesse tree to remember that God can do anything.
Prayer: God, help us to have faith like Joshua. We know you can do anything!
11. Ruth (Book of Ruth)
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. Naomi had been living in Ruth’s country, far from her family, and so Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem. Ruth could have stayed in her own country with her own family, but she chose to go to Bethlehem with Naomi. They had to work hard so they could eat. Ruth worked hard so she could take care of Naomi, her mother-in-law. Today, we put an anchor on the Jesse tree to remind us that God wants people to be faithful to each other and take care of each other.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to be kind friends who share what we have.
12. Jesse (Isaiah 11:1-4)
Jesse was the son of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth. Jesse knew of God’s love and raised his eight sons to know God’s laws and promises. One day, Samuel came to Jesse’s house to find the future king of Israel. Jesse thought that one of his older sons would be the future king of Israel. But God told Samuel to pick David, who was the youngest. Jesse was like a strong tree with deep roots of faith, so God rewarded him by making his son David one of the most important kings ever. Today, we put a tree on the Jesse tree to remind us that Jesse taught his children to love God, and God blessed them.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for parents who teach us to love you.
13. David (1 Samuel 16:17-23)
David came from Bethlehem where Jesus would be born many years later. He learned to trust God from his dad Jesse. David often sang songs to show his love for God. At Mass, we sing the psalms King David wrote. When David became the king of Israel, God blessed him and all of Israel. David was a good king because God guided him and because David listened to God. Today, we put a harp on the Jesse tree to remember that David sang to show his love of God.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for taking care of us and giving us voices to sing songs of praise to you.
14. Solomon (1 Kings 3:4-15)
Solomon became king after his father David. He asked God for help, and God made him very wise. People often came to him with questions, and God helped him know the answers. Being a king is an important job. Kings must be wise and strong; they must do what is good for the people of their land. Sometimes they must fight wars, but whenever possible they need to try to keep peace. Solomon became very powerful and used his power to build a beautiful temple where people could worship God. Today, we put a crown on the Jesse tree to remind us that God helped King Solomon to be a wise king.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for all the wonderful things you give to us. We know that everything we have is from you.
15. Isaiah (Isaiah 11:1-9)
Many, many years before Jesus was born, people called prophets would bring God’s message to the people of Israel. The prophets reminded the people of what God wanted them to do. God wanted them to be good and kind to others. The prophets told the people to worship only the one true God. Isaiah was a prophet who loved God very much. He wanted the people of Judah to obey and listen to God so they would be protected and blessed. When Isaiah was sad for the people, God gave him a promise that they would be saved when Jesus was born. Isaiah told the people that a special servant of God’s would be born to bring them hope and peace. That special servant is Jesus—God’s Son. When we love Jesus, we have so much peace in our hearts that it is like a lion laying down beside a lamb. Usually lions and lambs don’t like each other, but Jesus’ peace is very powerful. God’s peace helps all people live together in love. This made Isaiah and the people very happy. Today, we place a lion and a lamb on the Jesse tree to remind us of God’s peace.
Prayer: Loving God, help us find ways to have peace in our world.
16. Daniel (Daniel 6:17-24)
God wants to be the most important thing in our lives: more important than our family, more important than our things, more important than even our own lives. Daniel understood that; he worshiped God every day. A law was made that told Daniel that he had to worship a different king instead of God. When Daniel did not obey this law and worshipped God, he was punished and put in a pit with lions that would kill him. God saved Daniel’s life, so the king honored Daniel and God and changed the law. People learned of God’s power because of Daniel, and many others worshiped God because Daniel had trusted and honored God. Today, we put a lion on the Jesse tree to remind us of Daniel’s faith in God.
Prayer: It is not easy to love you the most, God, but help us to love you and trust you every day.
17. Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
God sent an angel to Mary, a pure and holy young woman. The angel told Mary that she would have a baby, whom she would name Jesus. Mary wasn’t sure that she could be a good mother to Jesus, but the angel reminded Mary that God would be with her. Mary knew that being a mother is a difficult and important job, but she knew that God would guide her. She also knew that she loved God and wanted to do whatever she could to serve him. This baby was the gift that God had been promising His people; Jesus would save the people from their sins. She was so excited to have such a special job from God. Today, we put a lily on the Jesse tree to remind us of Mary, Jesus’ mother.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for loving us so much and sending Jesus to us on the first Christmas.
18. Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)
After the angel left Mary, she immediately went to see her cousin Elizabeth. Mary and her cousin Elizabeth were great friends, and they had something in common: they were both going to have a baby. Mary had learned from the angel Gabriel that Elizabeth would soon have a son who would grow up to be John the Baptist. When Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s small house, Elizabeth experienced the Holy Spirit. Her baby was so excited to meet Jesus, he jumped even before he was born. Elizabeth called out to Mary the words of blessing we repeat with every hail Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.“ Today, we put a small house on the Jesse tree to represent Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin, who was so happy to meet Jesus, even before he was born.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, we are excited like Elizabeth and John, to celebrate your birth! Thank you, God, for sending your son to us!
19. Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25)
Joseph was part of King David’s family. He was a carpenter who worked with a hammer and nails. Joseph knew of God’s promise that a special person would someday be part of his family. God sent an angel to talk to Joseph in a dream. Joseph was so surprised when the angel asked Joseph and Mary to be the Daddy and Mommy of Jesus, the son of God, but he still said yes to what God asked of him. Today, we put a hammer on the Jesse tree to remind us of Joseph, who listened to God with an open heart.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to be like Joseph, and say Yes to all you ask of us.
20. Jesus (Luke 2:1-20)
Soon it will be Christmas – the day Jesus was born. When sin first came into the world, God made a promise. Even when the people forgot about God and the promise, God didn’t forget about the people. God guided the people, protected the people, and loved the people, even when they were sinful. God was faithful, and on Christmas the promise is fulfilled. God gives us His greatest gift ever so that we may be forgiven for bad choices we make and someday go to heaven to live with Him. God chose his son, Jesus, to save us. Today, we put a Chi-Rho on the Jesse tree as a sign of Jesus. The Chi-Rho puts together the first two letters in the Greek word Khristos (Christ), which means “the chosen one.” Jesus is the Christ, the one chosen to save us.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for giving us new life through your greatest gift of all – Jesus.
God’s people waited thousands of years for Jesus to come. They kept hope alive by believing in the promise of God. About 2,000 years ago Jesus was born in Bethlehem. We rejoice that he has come. We wait and get ready now to celebrate that wonderful day again, and we also prepare our hearts to be ready to receive Jesus when he comes again. Remember that Jesus comes to us every day of our lives, if we make a place for him in our hearts!
We will get ready by decorating Jesus’ family tree, the Jesse tree. Jesse was the father of King David, one of the ancestors of Jesus. We will decorate the Jesse tree with ornaments that remind us of the people who waited for Jesus to come. These people were good, holy people and have interesting stories! We will read a story and look at a symbol, something that will remind us of that person. Then we will hang that symbol on the tree, and read another story.
In these stories, we hear about God’s love and patience with his people over the centuries, a very long period of time. With the people in these stories, we experience God’s grace – his life and love in us.
1. Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-7)
God created Adam and Eve, the first man and woman. They lived in the Garden of Eden and had one rule from God: “Do not eat the fruit of the forbidden tree.” Adam and Eve were tempted, and made the choice to disobey God. God still loved Adam and Eve, but he had to punish them for disobeying him. He sent them out of the garden, and they had to work for their food. God also made a promise to Adam and Eve: He would always love them. We put an apple tree on the Jesse tree to remind us that even when we make bad choices, like Adam and Eve did, God loves us.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for loving us, even when we make bad choices.
2. Noah (Genesis 9:12-17)
Many people were disobeying God and this made God sad. There came a time when there was so much sin in the world that God had to find a way to remove sin from the world. So he asked Noah to build the ark and to save his own family, as well as the animals, because Noah and his family remembered God. Then God sent rain and the world flooded, and God destroyed all the people and animals that were not on the ark. When the water was gone, God sent a rainbow to show us that He won’t ever flood the world again. Today, we put a rainbow on the Jesse tree to remind us of Noah and the ark. Every time you see a rainbow, remember that God keeps his promises.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for keeping your promises and for rainbows.
3. Abraham (Genesis 12:1-7)
Sometimes God asks us to do things that are hard to do. God asks us to be good when it would be so much easier--and sometimes more fun--to be naughty. God asks us to go places and do things we'd rather not do. God asked Abraham to take a long trip, and to leave behind the place that he called home. But in return, God made promises to Abraham. God promised that Abraham would be blessed by God. Abraham still had problems and struggles, especially when he forgot to listen to God's directions, but God kept all of the promises made to Abraham. Most importantly, God was Abraham's friend forever. Today, we put a camel and a tent on the Jesse tree to remind us that Abraham obeyed God, leaving his home for strange lands, setting up tents wherever he stopped.
Prayer: Holy God, help us to obey you and do the things that you want us to do.
4. Sarah (Genesis 21:1-7)
Have you ever wanted something so much that you thought you would die if you didn't get it? It's so hard to be happy when we focus on the things we don't have, instead of the things we do have. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, wanted a baby more than anything, but even though she prayed a lot and tried everything she could think of, she didn't have a baby. As she got older she finally decided that God would not give her a child. But then God gave Sarah a son, and she named him Isaac. Sarah was very happy and grateful to God for giving her a wonderful son when she had given up on her dream. Today, we put a cradle on the Jesse tree, to remind us of Sarah, and how she prayed to God.
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for answering our prayers.
5. Rebecca (Genesis 24:10-20)
Abraham was looking for a wife for his son, Isaac, someone who was kind and generous. Abraham’s servant was traveling with 10 camels, and came to a well where Rebecca was filling her water jug. She offered a drink to Abraham’s servant, and gave water to all the camels, too. She saw an opportunity to do something kind, and swiftly went to work. She didn’t question or consider whether she was really needed; instead, she worked until the job of satisfying a whole herd of thirsty camels was completed. Rebecca became Isaac’s wife. Today, we put a well on the Jesse tree to remind us of Rebecca and her kind generosity.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to look for times and places where we can be of service, to be kind and helpful to others.
6. Jacob (Genesis 28:10-22)
Jacob, Isaac’s son, was feeling bad because he had been mean to his brother. He was running away, and stopped to rest. God gave him a dream. In the dream, there was a ladder going to heaven. God was at the top of the ladder. God told Jacob that He loved him and would take care of him always. Today, we put a ladder on the Jesse tree to remind us that God will always be with us just like Jacob.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for being our friend and always being with us.
7. Joseph (Genesis 37:1-36)
Jacob had twelve sons, one whose name was Joseph. Jacob gave Joseph a colored coat. This made his brothers feel bad so they were mean to him. They sold him to a man who made him a servant and even put him in prison. Later, he was set free and was given a very important job. While he was doing this job, he again met his brothers, who did not recognize him. Even though Joseph could have been mean to his brothers, he chose to help them. He knew that even though he had gone through some terrible times, God had been with him through everything, and God still expected him to do good things. Today, we put a brightly colored coat on the Jesse tree to remember that we need to be kind to others even when they are mean to us.
Prayer: God, help us to be kind to others just as you are kind and forgiving to us.
8. Moses (Exodus 34:28)
God wants us to be good to each other. God wants us to treat others the way that we want to be treated. To help us to understand how to care for each other, many years ago God gave Moses the ten best rules for living. These rules are called the Ten Commandments, and they are still good rules for us today. Not everybody likes to follow the rules. They think rules keep them from having fun. But God gave us the rules not as a punishment, but as a way of helping us to show God that we are thankful for what God has done for us. God wants us to do good, and will help us to do the right thing by guiding us to the right path. Today, we put the law tablets on the Jesse tree to remind us how important God’s laws are.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to obey your laws. Thank you for always forgiving and loving us.
9. Miriam (Exodus 15:20-21)
When the Hebrew people lived in Egypt a long time ago, they were very unhappy. They were slaves to the Egyptians and had to work very hard. Moses led God’s people out of slavery in Egypt. The Hebrew people were chased by the Egyptian soldiers to the banks of the Red Sea. They didn’t have boats. How could they cross? Moses went to the water’s edge, prayed to God, and lifted his rod over the sea. The wind blew hard on the waters of the Red Sea, and the water divided before their eyes. There was a wide pathway of damp sand between the two towering walls of water. It was a miracle! Moses, his older sister Miriam, and all the people hurried to get to the other side. And what happened to the Egyptian soldiers? The waters returned and rushed over them and their horses and chariots. Miriam picked up her tambourine and began to lead all the people in singing. She and the other women danced together on the banks of the Red Sea to show her happiness that God had protected all the Hebrew people. Today, we put a tambourine on the Jesse tree, as we remember Miriam, who celebrated with joy when God helped.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to catch and hold onto your love and strength when things are challenging.
10. Joshua (Joshua 6:1-15)
There was a city called Jericho where God’s people wanted to live, but it had a big wall all around it so they could not get in. But God told Joshua that He would help him take over the city. God told Joshua to blow his trumpet and march around the walls of Jericho. Joshua had faith that God could do it, and God made the walls fall down so His people had a place to live. God can do anything! Today, we put a horn on the Jesse tree to remember that God can do anything.
Prayer: God, help us to have faith like Joshua. We know you can do anything!
11. Ruth (Book of Ruth)
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. Naomi had been living in Ruth’s country, far from her family, and so Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem. Ruth could have stayed in her own country with her own family, but she chose to go to Bethlehem with Naomi. They had to work hard so they could eat. Ruth worked hard so she could take care of Naomi, her mother-in-law. Today, we put an anchor on the Jesse tree to remind us that God wants people to be faithful to each other and take care of each other.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to be kind friends who share what we have.
12. Jesse (Isaiah 11:1-4)
Jesse was the son of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth. Jesse knew of God’s love and raised his eight sons to know God’s laws and promises. One day, Samuel came to Jesse’s house to find the future king of Israel. Jesse thought that one of his older sons would be the future king of Israel. But God told Samuel to pick David, who was the youngest. Jesse was like a strong tree with deep roots of faith, so God rewarded him by making his son David one of the most important kings ever. Today, we put a tree on the Jesse tree to remind us that Jesse taught his children to love God, and God blessed them.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for parents who teach us to love you.
13. David (1 Samuel 16:17-23)
David came from Bethlehem where Jesus would be born many years later. He learned to trust God from his dad Jesse. David often sang songs to show his love for God. At Mass, we sing the psalms King David wrote. When David became the king of Israel, God blessed him and all of Israel. David was a good king because God guided him and because David listened to God. Today, we put a harp on the Jesse tree to remember that David sang to show his love of God.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for taking care of us and giving us voices to sing songs of praise to you.
14. Solomon (1 Kings 3:4-15)
Solomon became king after his father David. He asked God for help, and God made him very wise. People often came to him with questions, and God helped him know the answers. Being a king is an important job. Kings must be wise and strong; they must do what is good for the people of their land. Sometimes they must fight wars, but whenever possible they need to try to keep peace. Solomon became very powerful and used his power to build a beautiful temple where people could worship God. Today, we put a crown on the Jesse tree to remind us that God helped King Solomon to be a wise king.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for all the wonderful things you give to us. We know that everything we have is from you.
15. Isaiah (Isaiah 11:1-9)
Many, many years before Jesus was born, people called prophets would bring God’s message to the people of Israel. The prophets reminded the people of what God wanted them to do. God wanted them to be good and kind to others. The prophets told the people to worship only the one true God. Isaiah was a prophet who loved God very much. He wanted the people of Judah to obey and listen to God so they would be protected and blessed. When Isaiah was sad for the people, God gave him a promise that they would be saved when Jesus was born. Isaiah told the people that a special servant of God’s would be born to bring them hope and peace. That special servant is Jesus—God’s Son. When we love Jesus, we have so much peace in our hearts that it is like a lion laying down beside a lamb. Usually lions and lambs don’t like each other, but Jesus’ peace is very powerful. God’s peace helps all people live together in love. This made Isaiah and the people very happy. Today, we place a lion and a lamb on the Jesse tree to remind us of God’s peace.
Prayer: Loving God, help us find ways to have peace in our world.
16. Daniel (Daniel 6:17-24)
God wants to be the most important thing in our lives: more important than our family, more important than our things, more important than even our own lives. Daniel understood that; he worshiped God every day. A law was made that told Daniel that he had to worship a different king instead of God. When Daniel did not obey this law and worshipped God, he was punished and put in a pit with lions that would kill him. God saved Daniel’s life, so the king honored Daniel and God and changed the law. People learned of God’s power because of Daniel, and many others worshiped God because Daniel had trusted and honored God. Today, we put a lion on the Jesse tree to remind us of Daniel’s faith in God.
Prayer: It is not easy to love you the most, God, but help us to love you and trust you every day.
17. Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
God sent an angel to Mary, a pure and holy young woman. The angel told Mary that she would have a baby, whom she would name Jesus. Mary wasn’t sure that she could be a good mother to Jesus, but the angel reminded Mary that God would be with her. Mary knew that being a mother is a difficult and important job, but she knew that God would guide her. She also knew that she loved God and wanted to do whatever she could to serve him. This baby was the gift that God had been promising His people; Jesus would save the people from their sins. She was so excited to have such a special job from God. Today, we put a lily on the Jesse tree to remind us of Mary, Jesus’ mother.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for loving us so much and sending Jesus to us on the first Christmas.
18. Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)
After the angel left Mary, she immediately went to see her cousin Elizabeth. Mary and her cousin Elizabeth were great friends, and they had something in common: they were both going to have a baby. Mary had learned from the angel Gabriel that Elizabeth would soon have a son who would grow up to be John the Baptist. When Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s small house, Elizabeth experienced the Holy Spirit. Her baby was so excited to meet Jesus, he jumped even before he was born. Elizabeth called out to Mary the words of blessing we repeat with every hail Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.“ Today, we put a small house on the Jesse tree to represent Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin, who was so happy to meet Jesus, even before he was born.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, we are excited like Elizabeth and John, to celebrate your birth! Thank you, God, for sending your son to us!
19. Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25)
Joseph was part of King David’s family. He was a carpenter who worked with a hammer and nails. Joseph knew of God’s promise that a special person would someday be part of his family. God sent an angel to talk to Joseph in a dream. Joseph was so surprised when the angel asked Joseph and Mary to be the Daddy and Mommy of Jesus, the son of God, but he still said yes to what God asked of him. Today, we put a hammer on the Jesse tree to remind us of Joseph, who listened to God with an open heart.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to be like Joseph, and say Yes to all you ask of us.
20. Jesus (Luke 2:1-20)
Soon it will be Christmas – the day Jesus was born. When sin first came into the world, God made a promise. Even when the people forgot about God and the promise, God didn’t forget about the people. God guided the people, protected the people, and loved the people, even when they were sinful. God was faithful, and on Christmas the promise is fulfilled. God gives us His greatest gift ever so that we may be forgiven for bad choices we make and someday go to heaven to live with Him. God chose his son, Jesus, to save us. Today, we put a Chi-Rho on the Jesse tree as a sign of Jesus. The Chi-Rho puts together the first two letters in the Greek word Khristos (Christ), which means “the chosen one.” Jesus is the Christ, the one chosen to save us.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for giving us new life through your greatest gift of all – Jesus.
God’s people waited thousands of years for Jesus to come. They kept hope alive by believing in the promise of God. About 2,000 years ago Jesus was born in Bethlehem. We rejoice that he has come. We wait and get ready now to celebrate that wonderful day again, and we also prepare our hearts to be ready to receive Jesus when he comes again. Remember that Jesus comes to us every day of our lives, if we make a place for him in our hearts!