Jesse Tree Ornament - The Stump or The Root

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD" Isaiah 11:1-2

Patterns/templates for the Root of Jesse stump symbol.

Color suggestion for painting the stump symbol.

       Genealogy, signifies the line of descent, or a list of a person's ancestors. The common Hebrew expression for it is Sepher-Toledoth, "the Book of Generations." No nation was ever more careful to preserve their genealogies then the Jews. The sacred writings contain genealogies extended three thousand five hundred years backward. The genealogy of our Savior is deduced by the evangelists from Adam to Joseph and Mary, through a space of four thousand years and upwards. Matthew gives the line of descent through Joseph, his reputed or legal father, and Luke through Mary, his mother. In reading these genealogies we should remember that the Messiah was restricted by divine appointment:

   1. To the posterity of Abraham. 

   2. To the family of David. 

   3. To the existence of the line, the elder branch of the royal family, in short the very person who, had the dominion continued in the family of David, would have legally sat on the throne. 

• "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." Genesis 49:10 (KJB)  Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
  
• "For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Acts 2:25-36 (KJB) Peter Preaches to The Crowd from the Berean Study Bible.

       The Jewish priests were obliged to produce an exact genealogy of their families, before they were admitted to exercise their function. Wherever placed, the Jews were particularly careful not to marry below themselves; and to prevent this, the originals of which were lodged at Jerusalem, to be occasionally consulted. These authentic monuments, during all their wars and persecutions, were taken great care of, and from time to time renewed. But, since the last destruction of their city, and the dispersion of the people, their ancient genealogies are lost. But to this the Jews reply, that either Elias, or some other inspired priest or prophet, shall come and restore their genealogical tables before Messiah's appearance; a tradition, which they ground on a passage in Nehemiah 7:64,65. --Calmet; Watson

Left, cut pieces of baker's clay ornament. Center, use a pencil to draw directly onto the dried clay pieces if you need to. Right, the finished project.

Baker's clay version of the Jesse Tree Stump ornament.

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