The concept of the Jesse Tree originates from Isaiah 11:1, which prophesies, "A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of His roots." The branch, serving as a biblical emblem of renewal amid adversity, becomes a means to discuss the anticipated Messiah. It symbolizes Jesus the Christ, fully God and fully man, full of grace and truth.
These devotions aim to unravel the narrative of God in the Old Testament, linking the Advent Season to God's steadfastness.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.”
Genesis 1:1-3
God is the creator of all things. By speaking creation into being, God demonstrated His matchless creativity through all that was made. The beauty of our Creator’s gift gives us something to marvel at every day. Yet, in the midst of all creation, something stood far above everything else - God Himself. The greatest gift He has ever given us was Himself.
John 1 tells us that Jesus was present at creation with the Father and the Holy Spirit (from the beginning we see the Triune God.) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Before His first advent, He was. He always has been. He always will be.
Let’s slowly read a few Scriptures together in order to prepare our hearts to be ravished by His first advent.
Genesis 1:1-3 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.”
John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
John 8:12 “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Jesus, would You shine into the darkness of our hearts? We want the light of life to illuminate the depths and caverns of our souls. In this Advent season may we fall more in love with You. Amen.
