Have you ever made a Jesse Tree? I had not heard of it before this year, but I love the idea!
Basically, the Jesse Tree is an advent tree that tells the story of God’s salvation plan, beginning with creation and continuing through the Old Testament, to the coming of the Messiah.
The name comes from Isaiah 11:1, “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.” Jesse is the father of David, an ancestor of Jesus.
Each night of advent, you hang an ornament and read the corresponding scripture. It can become a treasured tradition for your family that keeps the focus on Christ.
There are a number of ways to do the lessons and ornaments. There are plenty of kits that you can buy, but I’ve found a number of free printables that I think are fantastic:
- Free Jesse Tree Printable Ornaments and Advent Study from Confessions of a Homeschooler
- Free Jesse Tree Printable Ornaments from Life Your Way
- Free Jesse Tree Printable Ornaments (LEGO version) from Proverbial Homemaker
- Free Jesse Tree Printable Ornaments and Devotional from Blessed Beyond a Doubt
- Free Jesse Tree Printable Ornaments and Devotional from Bright Shiny Things
- Free Jesse Tree Printable Ornaments from Michele Quigley
- Free Jesse Tree Printable Ornaments from Healthy Family
- Free Jesse Tree Printable Ornaments from Whimsicle Design Studio
- Free Jesse Tree Printable Ornaments from Joyfully Weary
- Free Jesse Tree Printable Ornaments and Devotions from A Holy Experience
You can even come up with your own idea and make something completely unique! You can cut out felt shapes, paint ornaments, let your kids cut out images on construction paper, the possibilities are endless!
I’m planning to make everything tonight (hopefully!) and start tomorrow. I can’t wait!