Jesse Tree - A Great Light (Day 8)

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned...For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.  Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

Sunday: A Great Light
Bible Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7
Jesse Tree Symbol: candle (go to Jesse Tree ornaments)


"Last year I had a dream.. I remember seeing a white bright light, as bright as the sun.. But the funny thing is it wasn't hurting my eyes at all!! I could look into this light with great comfort. The light warmed me with love and joy!! I felt happy!! Then appeared Jesus Christ he stood in the light wearing a long white robe. He glowed with light. He was holding a book in his hand and on the book stood a white  dove. I felt so loved and like I didn't have a worry in the world. I felt joy, peace, happiness and so much
of love. I had so many questions to ask him but at that time I felt like I knew every answer to my every question. Jesus looked at me and then the dream faded away and I awoke to darkness. I am born into Hindu faith but all my life I has never felt that connection to the Hindi deities. My heart didn't feel like going into doing all the Hindu prayers. I have a Bible and my family knows I believe in Jesus Christ...I have asked Jesus Christ for forgiveness of my sins."

Those are the words of a young girl named Melisha who lives in South Africa. I know this because she wrote them to me last week. She was writing to me because I am an online missionary with the Campus Crusade outreach Global Media Outreach

Melisha has "seen a great light," just as Isaiah talks about. She was "walking in darkness," "living in the land of the shadow of death," but now "a light has dawned" for her. Now she knows who Jesus Christ is and has accepted Him as her Lord and Savior.

It is not easy. Her family is Hindu. Her brother is angry that she now worships Jesus. She does not have a car so can not go to a worship service this Sunday morning. But Melisha can worship Jesus in her heart. She can read her Bible. She can know Him as "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."


Jesus came to Earth to bring light into this dark, dark world. He did this 2,000 years ago and He does it today, every moment, all over the world, into every heart that will accept Him.

May the lights of Christmas, this year, remind you of the child that was born to be the light of the world.



The above commentary is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at The Jesse Tree

When you are finished today, you might want to discuss how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Today, over 2 billion people, 1/3 of the earth's population, have never heard the Gospel message. They don't know about the way God provided for them through Himself as our ultimate sacrifice. They need our prayers. 

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World  go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Another way to give is by giving a gift to those, throughout the world, who have very little. It might be a chicken, or sheep or a goat...maybe you can help pay for the digging of a well or provide a sewing machine to a widow so she can provide for her family. There are many ways to help this Christmas. Visit  Gospel for Asia and take a look at their Christmas Catalog. 

Jesse Tree - Heaven Opened (Day 7)

"He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

There above it stood the Lord, and he said: "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.

Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

Genesis 28:12-15

Saturday: Jacob's Ladder

Bible Reading: Genesis 27:41 - 28:22

Jesse Tree Symbol: ladder  (go to Jesse Tree ornaments)

Jacob, the "deceiver," a man who had just lied to his father Isaac in order to take his twin brother's inheritance and was on the run from this brother who wanted to kill him. He arrived at a desolate, lonely, barren place. Nothing there to suggest to Jacob that God was with him. Alone, scared, possibly sorry and guilt-ridden for what he had done, he lays his head on a stone and dreams an incredible dream.

"A stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to Heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord" Gen. 28:12-13 What an incredible dream! Jacob had a glimpse into Heaven. He saw the way to get there but sadly, when he woke up, that way was gone.

"When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it." He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." Genesis 28:16-17 What Jacob did began to understand, at that moment, was that God was with him. Even though he had sinned greatly, even though he was far away from his home and in a desolate, desert region, God was with him.

Though Jacob would never see Heaven again, until after his death...Heaven did open up again and this time it was not in a dream.

It opened when the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and conceived in her Jesus Christ. Jesus said, I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." John 1:51

Through Jesus Christ, Heaven and earth are joined, reconciled and access is given. He is the ladder that Jacob dreamed of. He is our means to enter Heaven.

The above commentary on Genesis is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at The Jesse Tree

When you are finished today, you might want to discuss how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Today, over 2 billion people, 1/3 of the earth's population, have never heard the Gospel message. They don't know about the way God provided for them through Himself as our ultimate sacrifice. They need our prayers. 

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World  go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Another way to give is by giving a gift to those, throughout the world, who have very little. It might be a chicken, or sheep or a goat...maybe you can help pay for the digging of a well or provide a sewing machine to a widow so she can provide for her family. There are many ways to help this Christmas. Visit  Gospel for Asia and take a look at their Christmas Catalog. 

Jesse Tree - God Provides (Day 6)

Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son."

Genesis 22:8

Friday: Offering of Isaac

Bible Reading: Genesis 22:1-19

Jesse Tree Symbol - ram (go to Jesse Tree ornaments)

This is a difficult story for children. It's a difficult story for adults, especially if you are a parent. What faith Abraham had in God. He believed. from the beginning, that God would fulfill HIs promise through Isaac. In Genesis 22:5 Abraham tells his servants that he and Isaac will go on ahead and "then we will come back to you." 

"By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."  Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death." Hebrews 11:17-19

Abraham's faith was tremendous, but I'd like to focus today on the name Abraham called the place where he almost sacrificed Isaac. "So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided." Genesis 22:14

The Hebrew name for "The Lord will Provide" is Jehovah-jirah. He did provide an animal for the sacrifice that day...a ram. But He also provided a sacrifice for a day in the distant future.

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29

Just as Isaac walked willingly up Mount Moriah, carrying the wood for his own sacrifice (Gen. 22:6), Jesus walked willingly up Golgotha (within sight of Mount Moriah where the Temple now stood), carrying the wooden cross for His own sacrifice.

But unlike Isaac, no Angel of the Lord intervened this time. No voice from Heaven called out "Jesus! Jesus!" Instead, the voice of Jesus was heard calling "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"-which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark 15:34

Can we begin to comprehend how the Lord provided that day? Can we begin to understand the sacrifice Jesus willingly made for us?

May today's reflection help us to understand a bit more of the Father's heart of love for us. He is 

Jehovah-jirah, the God who provides.

The above commentary on Genesis is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at The Jesse Tree

When you are finished today, you might want to discuss how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Today, over 2 billion people, 1/3 of the earth's population, have never heard the Gospel message. They don't know about the way God provided for them through Himself as our ultimate sacrifice. They need our prayers. 

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World  go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Another way to give is by giving a gift to those, throughout the world, who have very little. It might be a chicken, or sheep or a goat...maybe you can help pay for the digging of a well or provide a sewing machine to a widow so she can provide for her family. There are many ways to help this Christmas. Visit  Gospel for Asia and take a look at their Christmas Catalog. 

Jesse Tree -The Promise (Day 3, 4 & 5)

He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 

Genesis 15:5-6

You may be wondering why there are so many devotions for today's blog. It's because I am playing catch-up. On Monday we had to take our daughter in for an emergency surgery and she and I spent the night in the hospital. I am now just getting to my blog and the Jesse Tree devotion. Thankfully, she is fine, we had wonderful medical care and God reminded us all of His goodness and His protection. 

In order to get caught up, you can go over briefly, the below devotions for days 3 & 4. If you would like to learn more about the Jesse Tree and some websites on how to make one, go to my first devotion in this series Jesse Tree - what is it? (Day 1 & 2)

Tuesday: The First Sin

Bible Reading: Genesis 3: 1-24

Jesse Tree symbol: forbidden fruit 

(go to Jesse Tree ornaments)

As a child I would hear this story and think to myself.."I wouldn't have eaten that fruit." It was hard for me to grasp my sinful nature.

It wasn't until I became an adult and a mother that I began to fully grasp my sinful nature and realized that I would have eaten that fruit. The fruit represented willful disobedience to God's commands. I make the same choice Adam and Eve made every time I choose to disobey the Lord because I want do to things my way.

When the devil spoke to Eve, he was trying to get her to doubt God's good intentions towards her: "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'" Gen. 3:1. He wanted her to disbelieve God's wisdom. Do we do that today? Do our children?

Do your children question your rules? Do they sometimes think they could find a better way to do something? Do they trust in your wisdom all the time? Unfortunately, the answer is probably no, especially as they grow older. Yet, God has said: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Ephesians 6:1 and "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."  Colossians 3:20 Discussing this with them may help them to see their sinful tendencies and their need for Jesus.

Wednesday: Noah's Ark

Bible Reading: Genesis 6:11-22; 8:6-12

Jesse Tree Symbol: Dove over water (go to Jesse Tree ornaments)

The story of Noah, the ark, the animals, the flood and the rainbow is one that most children are familiar with. There are many different aspects of this story that can be taught to draw comparisons to the person of Jesus Christ. I would like to highlight just one. 

God was greatly disappointed with the entire human race, save one man...Noah. God knew what He planned to do, destroy all living creatures, yet He prepared a way of escape...a door. 

"Put a door in the side of the ark" Genesis 6:16 and that was the door that Noah, his family and all the animals passed through. There was no other way in, only one door. 

"And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood...And after seven days the floodwaters came on the earth...Then the Lord shut him in." Genesis 7:7, 10, 16. It seems that the door to the ark stayed open for seven days before the Lord shut it. Seven days when those around Noah could have listened to his warnings and entered the ark. But they didn't and they died.

Today a door stands open as well. But this time, that door has been standing open for more that 2,000 years. That door is Jesus Christ. 

"I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved," John 10:9. God knew that there would be a second judgment of the earth, but this time by fire. And just as God had Noah build an ark as a means of salvation from the flood, God prepared Himself, in Jesus Christ, as a means of salvation for all mankind. 

The Bible makes it clear that we are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). Nothing we can do can save us from our sin and its consequence of eternal separation from God. But the Bible also tells us that "If we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead, we will be saved" (Romans 10:9). It is “by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). 

Nothing we can do will save us from our sin—salvation is all of God. Nothing Noah did could save him from the flood unless he followed God's instructions to build the ark and then walked through that door. Just like Noah, our responsibility is to go through the doorway (Jesus), and God will save us.

Thursday: The Promise

Bible Reading: Genesis 12:1-7, 13:2-18

Jesse Tree Symbol: Tent (go to Jesse Tree ornaments)

Abraham is called the "Father of Faith" and it is no surprise when we think about the promises He believed...the faith He put in God.

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." Hebrews 11:8-10

Abraham didn't know where he was going. God just told him to go. He didn't know what it would be like when he arrived. He didn't know anyone there. He stepped out in faith, not because he was looking forward to his new destination but because he was looking upward at the God whom he trusted and obeyed. That is faith!

This move, however, was not the only step of faith God asked Abraham to take. The next one might have been even more difficult.

No children and no hope of children...Abraham and Sarah were close to 100 years old. It's not physically possible. Their dreams of children had been buried long ago in the desert sands. But God had something else in mind. You see, with the God of the Universe, nothing is impossible. And Abraham believed that. He believed even though everything in his human nature was screaming disbelief. Even his own wife Sarah laughed at the thought of ever having a child (Genesis 18:12).

Not Abraham. "By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-and Sarah herself was barren-was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore." Hebrews 11:11-12

"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Romans 4:18

Abraham believed God instead of what the world said, what his wife said and what his own body said. He not only believed God for a child, but he believed the incredible thought that through this child all the nations would be blessed. How? Abraham was just one man, one family...he wasn't even a nation. How would all nations be blessed through him?

The blessing for all nations is peace with God and eternal salvation. The bearer of this blessing -- Jesus Christ, Abraham's distant descendant. "May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed." Psalm 72:17

"All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him," Psalm 22:27

God fulfilled His promise to Abraham beyond his wildest dreams. He is still fulfilling that promise today. He is fulfilling it through you, your children and throughout the world. We are part of that promise, children of Abraham: "heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, "Romans 8:17.

"And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed." Acts 3:25

As part of God's family, we carry on the promise God made to Abraham so many years ago. It is our duty, our privilege, to tell others about Jesus so they can join His family, so they can become part of the blessing. "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." Galatians 3:14

The above commentary on Genesis is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at 

 Jesse Tree - what is it? (Day 1 & 2)

When you are finished today, you might want to discuss how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Today, over 2 billion people, 1/3 of the earth's population, have never heard the Gospel message. They don't know about the promise that God made to Abraham, that they would be blessed. They need our prayers. 

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World  go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

The Jesse Tree - what is it? (Day 1&2)

Olive tree in Israel

"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord--

and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. 

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 

but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. 

He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

Isaiah 11:1-5

November 27th marked the first Sunday in Advent...a time when we prepare our hearts and minds for the upcoming celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Many families may read a weekly devotion and sing Christmas carols. Some may use an advent wreath or an advent calendar to anticipate Christmas. The Jesse Tree is another way to help your family think about and focus on the birth of Christ.

The Jesse Tree comes from Isaiah 11:1: "A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots." It is a way to tell the story of God in the Old Testament, and to connect the Advent Season with the faithfulness of God across 4,000 years of history. The Branch is a Biblical sign of newness out of discouragement, which became a way to talk about the expected Messiah: "The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land." Jeremiah 23:5 

A Jesse Tree does not require much work or time. You can use a real tree, a tree drawn on a piece of poster board, a tree you make yourself with craft supplies or it can be a banner. Each day you will read to your child(ren) a Scripture passage and talk about its meaning in relation to the coming of Christ and God's promises. Then your child(ren) will color an ornament to hang on the tree. The ornaments can be found at the below websites or you can have your children draw a picture of their own.

I plan to have a Jesse Tree devotion with my children beginning today, the first day of December. I plan to blog about each day's Jesse Tree message so if you like, you can return to this blog each day to find out the Scripture reading, some thoughts on its meaning and the symbol.

Here are some websites where you can find more information and black-n-white drawings of the daily symbols:

The Jesse Tree: Celebration of Advent

Jesse Tree ornaments

The Jesse Tree

If you begin the Jesse Tree today, December 1, you will want to talk to your children about the following two messages in order to catch up. 

Sunday: The Jesse Tree 

Bible reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 and 1 Samuel 16:1-13 

Symbol: a tree  (go to Jesse Tree ornaments)

Jesse was the father of David, beginning a line of descendants that will lead to Jesus, the Messiah. The tree represents Jesus...the branch springing from the root of Jesse. You can introduce the Jesse Tree to your children at this time, telling them its meaning and purpose.

Monday: Creation

Bible reading: all of Genesis 1 or just Genesis 1:24-28

Symbol: land God created (go to Jesse Tree ornaments)

God created a world of peace and harmony...a beautiful world with no sin. He created man in His image, making us different from the animals. We can have relationships, we have intellect, we have creativity, we were given stewardship of the earth...a good time to talk to your children about what makes us unique and what it means to be created in the image of God. You might also point out that we are not animals, as some would like to say. You might have them compare the differences between us and animals. 

You can follow the Jesse Tree lesson with a Christmas carol or two. 

When you are finished each day, you might want to talk about how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World  go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

May this Christmas season be a time when each of us draw nearer to Christ and help our children do the same. God bless you!