Roots & Shoots: A Jesse Tree for the Rest of Us

Many moons ago, when I was still a young, sleep-deprived mom on a mission to create meaningful Christmas traditions for my 3-year-old daughter, I came across the Jesse Tree. (I even wrote about it here.)

Truth be told, it didn’t stick. We only did it that one year (and I had completely forgotten about it until my husband reminded me that we actually did it, and I didn’t just write about it).

In theory, I love it. I love the idea of tracing the family tree of Jesus. I love the little ornaments and the symbols that go with every Scripture passage. I love the idea of gathering my family at the end of the day and having something small to do to mark each day of Advent.

But in practice? In practice, I often find myself reading these stories and thinking, Wait… are we sure we should be reading this? (I actually wrote about Cavaletti’s approach to Scripture for young children here.)

We hang a ladder for Jacob, but we gloss over the fact that he was a liar on the run. We hang a ram for Isaac, but we try not to think about the trauma of that mountain. We hang a crown for David, but we quietly skip the parts about his abuse of power. For years, I found myself reading these stories through a “children’s Bible” filter—smoothing over the rough edges, looking for simple heroes, and trying to ignore the weirdness.

But lately, I’ve realized that the weirdness is the point.

A Tradition with Deep Roots

It helps to remember that the Jesse Tree didn’t actually start as a craft project for toddlers.

It began in the Middle Ages as “high art” for adults. It was carved in stone and depicted in massive stained glass windows (like the famous one at Chartres Cathedral in France) to help the faithful visualize the humanity of Jesus. It was a theological tool designed to prove that Christ was real flesh and blood, rooted in actual history.

It wasn’t until the liturgical renewal of the 1950s and 60s that the Jesse Tree moved from the cathedral to the kitchen table. Books like the Andersons’ The Jesse Tree (1966) helped families reclaim Advent as a season of waiting, rather than just a frantic rush to Christmas.

So, by digging deep this year, we aren’t ruining the tradition; we are returning to its roots. We are treating it as it was originally intended: a profound way for adults to understand who Jesus is.

Because the reality is, the Bible wasn’t written for children who need simple heroes. It was written for adults who are wrestling with empire, oppression, exhaustion, and hope. It was written for people exactly like us.

And so, this Advent, I want to try something different. I’m putting away the children’s summary and picking up the actual text. I’m inviting a few “guides” to sit with us—writers like Lisa Sharon Harper, who reminds us that the goal of God’s story isn’t just “going to heaven” but restoring Shalom (peace) right here on earth. Writers like Melissa Florer-Bixler and Margaret Nutting Ralph, who help us see that these stories aren’t just history reports; they are subversive, political, beautiful literature written by a marginalized people.

The Roadmap

Much like the traditional Jesse tree, we are going to follow the timeline of salvation history in six specific movements. Think of these as the chapters of the story we are stepping into:

Part I: Origins & The Loss of Shalom

We start at the very beginning to ask: What did God intend for the world, and how did we lose the plot?

• Day 1: Like a Hen Brooding Over Her Eggs
• Day 2: The Great Hiding
• Day 3: The War Bow
• Day 4: The Empire of Sameness

Part II: The Ancestors (Days 5–9)

We meet the Patriarchs and Matriarchs (Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebekah, Jacob, Leah & Rachel) — plus the often-overlooked mothers Bilhah and Zilpah. We will walk with this messy, dysfunctional family chosen to carry the blessing.

• Day 5: The God of the Covenant

Part III: Liberation & Law (Days 10–12)

We move to the desert to see how God takes a group of enslaved people and forms them into a free nation.

Part IV: The Empire (Days 13–17)

We watch the rise of the Kings (David and Solomon) and ask the hard question: What happens when the people of God start acting like the Empire?

Part V: The Wait (Days 18–21)

We sit with the Prophets in the darkness of exile, learning what it means to hope when everything has fallen apart.

Part VI: The Arrival (Days 22–25)

We finally arrive at the manger, seeing how the birth of Jesus answers the cry of every generation before him.

The Invitation

This devotional is designed for you—the parent, the doubter, the tired believer. You might still be doing the simple version with your kids at the dinner table, but this… this is for your own heart.

Make sure you are subscribed to the email list to get these delivered daily, or follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

On December 1, be on the lookout for my first post. Pour a cup of coffee. Maybe even light a candle. Let’s meet our spiritual ancestors—not as cartoons, but as real people. And let’s find our own place in the tangled, beautiful family tree of God.

A Note for Parents: What About the Kids?

If you are reading this and thinking, “Oh no, I just bought a Jesse Tree kit for my toddler! Is this too heavy for them?”—take a deep breath.

We don’t have to throw the baby out with the bathwater. The ritual of the Jesse Tree—hanging an ornament, lighting a candle, counting down the days—is beautiful and worthy of keeping. But we can adjust how we tell the story based on where our kids are developmentally.

Here is a rule of thumb inspired by the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd:

For the Littles (Under Age 6): Save the Jesse Tree for when they’re older.

Children this age don’t understand chronological history yet (yesterday is a blur, let alone 4,000 years ago!). They don’t need the complex timeline of ancestors; they need to know that Jesus is the Light.

The Modification: Introduce the tradition of the Advent Wreath to your dinner table and light a candle for each Sunday of Advent. Looking for songs? You can find examples of Advent songs that we use in the atrium here.

For the Big Kids (Age 6+): Connect the Dots.

Around age 6 or 7, children enter a “golden age” of understanding time and morality. They love the big picture. They are ready to see how Abraham connects to David, and how David connects to Jesus.

The Modification: Read a children’s version of the story, but use your adult devotional to help you answer their hard questions. When they ask why Abraham almost hurt Isaac, you’ll have a better answer ready than “Because God said so.”

So, whether you modify the tradition or save it for later, let this devotional be the food you eat so you have something substantial to share with them.