“This Advent let’s remind ourselves of God at work in our world, though the stories of his people in the Bible and their part in the whakapapa (lineage) of Jesus, God’s Big Story that we can be a part of as well. Jesse Trees are a very old Christmas tradition and first started in Medieval times. They are used to help tell the story of the Bible from creation to the Christmas Story. This resource is designed to help families prepare for Christmas and the celebration of Jesus’ birth.”
The name comes from Jesse who was the father of King David.
One prophecy in the Bible, in the book of Isaiah, says: Like a branch that sprouts from a stump, someone from David’s family will someday be king. The Spirit of the Lord will be with him to give him understanding, wisdom, and insight. He will be powerful, and he will know and honour the Lord. His greatest joy will be to obey the Lord. This king won’t judge by appearances or listen to rumours. The poor and the needy will be treated with fairness and with justice. His word will be law everywhere in the land, and criminals will be put to death. —Isaiah 11:1-4 (CEV)