Jesse Tree Ornament: The "I" Scroll

"Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge; their honored men go hungry, and their multitude is parched with thirst." Isaiah 5:13 (NSV)

and/or

"But the people have not returned to rely on him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD of the Heavenly Armies." Isaiah 9:13 (ISV)

       The regard in which Isaiah is held is so high that the book is frequently called "the Fifth Gospel", the prophet who spoke more clearly of Christ and the Church than any others. Its influence extends beyond the Church and Christianity to English literature and to Western culture in general, from the libretto of Handel's Messiah to a host of such everyday phrases as "swords into ploughshares" and "voice in the wilderness".
       The Gospel of John quotes Isaiah 6:10 and states that "Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him." Isaiah makes up 27 of the 37 quotations from the prophets in the Pauline epistles, and takes pride of place in the Gospels and in Acts of the Apostles. Isaiah 7:14, where the prophet is assuring king Ahaz that God will save Judah from the invading armies of Israel and Syria, forms the basis for Matthew 1:23's doctrine of the virgin birth, while Isaiah 40:3–5's image of the exiled Israel led by God and proceeding home to Jerusalem on a newly constructed road through the wilderness was taken up by all four Gospels and applied to John the Baptist and Jesus.
       Isaiah seems always to have had a prominent place in Jewish Bible use, and it is probable that Jesus himself was deeply influenced by Isaiah. Thus many of the Isaiah passages that are familiar to Christians gained their popularity not directly from Isaiah but from the use of them by Jesus and the early Christian authors – this is especially true of the Book of Revelation, which depends heavily on Isaiah for its language and imagery.

A baker's clay version of a "I" scroll, symbolic for the prophet Isaiah. Both ends are rolled toward each other with the inside text made invisible to the reader.

"For unto us a child was born..." Handel's Messiah

Jesse Tree Ornament: The "J" Scroll

"For the time is coming," says the LORD, "when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David's line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land." Jeremiah 23:5 (NLT)

Jeremiah also foreshowed the miraculous conception of Christ, (Jer. 31:22) the virtue of his atonement, the spiritual character of his covenant, and the inward efficacy of his laws, Jer. 31: 31-36. 33:8.

• Messiah Revealed

A baker's clay version of a "J" scroll. Symbolic for the prophet Jeremiah. The bottom end is rolled to the front of the scroll  and the top end is rolled to the back side of the scroll.

Jesse Tree Ornament: The "E" Scroll

"And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give them their land and increase their numbers, and I will put my Temple among them forever." Ezekiel 37:26

Ezekiel was also a contemporary of Jeremiah, and like him he was also of the sacerdotal race.

       Sacerdotalism is the belief that propitiatory sacrifices for sin require the intervention of a priest. That is, it is the belief that a special, segregated order of men, called the Levitical Priesthood, are the only ones who can commune directly with God or the gods. This system of priesthood is exemplified by the Aaronic priests in the Old Testament.
       The term sacerdotalism comes from the Latin sacerdos, priest, literally one who presents sacred offerings (from sacer, "the sacred", and dare, "to give"); offerer of sacrifices. The related Latin term sacerdotium refers to the earthly hierarchy (of priests, bishops, etc.) whose primary goal is the salvation of the soul.

Right, A baker's clay version of the "e" scroll, symbolic for the prophet Ezekiel. This is basically an open scroll with two ends rolled slightly out but facing inward. The text would be revealed.

Jesse Tree Ornament - The Ram

"And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen." Genesis 22:13-14 (KJB)

Patterns for crafting a ram symbol for your Jesse tree.

       In Judaism, the qorban is any of a variety of sacrificial offerings described and commanded in the Torah. The most common usages are animal sacrifice (zevah זֶבַח), zevah shelamim (the peace offering) and olah (the "holocaust" or burnt offering). A qorban was an animal sacrifice, such as a bull, sheep, goat, deer or a dove that underwent shechita (Jewish ritual slaughter). Sacrifices could also consist grain, meal, wine, or incense.

       The Hebrew Bible says that Yahweh commanded the Israelites to offer offerings and sacrifices on various altars. The sacrifices were only to be offered by the hands of the Kohanim. Before building the Temple in Jerusalem, when the Israelites were in the desert, sacrifices were offered only in the Tabernacle. After building Solomon's Temple, sacrifices were allowed only there. After the Temple was destroyed, sacrifices was resumed when the Second Temple was built until it was also destroyed in 70 CE. After the destruction of the Second Temple sacrifices were prohibited because there was no longer a Temple, the only place allowed by halakha for sacrifices. Offering of sacrifices was briefly reinstated during the Jewish–Roman wars of the second century CE and was continued in certain communities thereafter.

A painted salt clay ornament of a ram for the Jesse Tree.

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Jesse Tree Ornament - The Fish

"Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee." Jonah 3:2 (KJB)

Two patterns for the Jesse Tree fish symbol.

   
       "As early as the days of the Church in the Catacombs we find the Holy Sacrament of Baptism symbolically represented. The most frequent symbol is a fish: it frequently appears upon the tombs of the departed Christians, indicating that they who are buried were baptized into the Church of Christ by water, the only element in which fish can exist.
       From these early times, and throughout the whole of the Middle Ages, the Fish retained its signification and continued to be used.
        Sometimes three fishes were represented entwined in a triangular fashion: doubtless this was intended to symbolize Baptism under the immediate sanction and blessing of the Divine Trinity." Audsley.
        The Fish most often used on a Jesse Tree, however, is symbolic for the great fish that carried the prophet Jonah to a distant city called, Nineveh. Modern Christian's often prefer the depiction of a whale as being the creature to secure Jonah's passage through the sea. 

Color suggestion for painting the fish symbol.

A baker's clay version of a fish pattern above.

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Defeated in battle...

"For Your arrows have sunk deep into me, And Your hand has pressed down on me." Psalm 38:2

Description of Illustration: a Medieval knight perishes on top of his horse, stabbed! exhausted horse, armor, giving up, giving in

"Remove Your plague from me; Because of the opposition of Your hand I am perishing." Psalm 39:10

"The cords of death encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow." Psalm 116:3

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Prepare For Battle!

"This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight." 1 Timothy 1:18

 Description of Illustration: black and white, soldiers facing one another, shields ready and swords drawn, armor helmets, transparent backgrounds and black text

"Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare a war; rouse the mighty men! Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up!" Joel 3:9

 "Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom - We have heard a report from the LORD, And an envoy has been sent among the nations saying, 'Arise and let us go against her for battle" Obadiah 1:1

"The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD." Proverbs 21:31

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Nursery care baby illustration

Description of Illustration: black and white, baby in a blanket, wave hello, shadow
 
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Engagement quotes, vintage proposal cartoon

"Grow old with me! The best is yet to be." Robert Browning

Description of Illustration: white tie, tuxedo, tails, engagement ring, bride-to-be, future groom, black and white only, engagement quotes

"All things do go a-courting,
In earth, or sea, or air,
God hath made nothing single
But thee in His world so fair."
Emily Dickinson

"Two souls, one heart."

"My heart to you is given:
Ohm do give yours to me;
We'll lock them up together,
And throw away the key."
by Frederick Saunders

"My whole heart for my whole life."

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Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted!

Description of Illustration: apple tree, tall fence, snake in the garden, sign text reads "Garden of Eden Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted" and scripture reads "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily..." 2 Corinthians 11:3

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Jaffa Harbor

Description of Illustration: monochromatic colors: navy and blue-grey, tan and brown, fishing boats, village in the harbor, water, sea

Jaffa or Yafo (Hebrew: יפו‎‎,  Yāfō (help·info); Arabic: يَافَا‎‎, also called Japho or Joppa), is the southern and oldest part of Tel Aviv-Yafo, an ancient port city in Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical stories of Jonah, Solomon and Saint Peter as well as the mythological story of Andromeda and Perseus, and later with oranges. Read more...

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Falling Sorrows

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials." 1 Peter 1:16

Illustrated Scriptures Described: transparent backgrounds, white text, fall leaves in amber colors: red, orange and yellow, leaf stems

"Some devout men buried Stephen, and made lout lamentation over him." Acts 8:2

"Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me; O LORD, be my helper." You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, " Psalm 30: 10-11

"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

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The Pilgrim's Hymn.
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Aim And Shoot!

"Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." and while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him" Genesis 4:8 plus "Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he slay him?..." 1 John 3:12

Description of Illustration: Gangsters from the 20s or 30s, gun, cigarette, text "--selling calls for healthy nerves, too, Mr Marksman!" scriptures about murder and violence, vintage film, bullet holes, leather gloves

"Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death." Leviticus 24:17 plus "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgement..." Matthew 5:22

"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God man he made." Book of Genesis "Ruben answered them, saying, "Did I not tell you, 'Do not sin against the boy'; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood." plus "Put your sward back in its place, Jesus said to him, "For all who draw the sword will die by the sword." Matthew 26:52

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Sheet Music Frame

Description of Illustration: music notes, sheet music, banner for announcements, fill it in with your own information, announce concerts, recitals, classes, special events and even music lessons, comes in black and white only

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"Please tell me what is wrong dear!

Description of Illustration: couple, speech bubble, sermon starter, 1930s, sitting on lap, text "Please tell me what is wrong dear!", greyscale, vintage photograph

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Centuries of Theology

Description of Illustration: text, "History of Theology" 1rst century - 22nd century, vine, ivy, ornate tree image, trunk and branches, comes in black and white, ribbon, professors/faculty/students may like to organize their study materials or label class notes, comes with transparent backgrounds

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