The Ark of The Covenant

Description of the Illustration: black and white, angels, Holy, cherubim, gold, altar, Mercy Seat, ark,

       "They are to make an ark of acacia wood, 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. Overlay it with pure gold; overlay it both inside and out. Also make a gold molding all around it. Cast four gold rings for it and place them on its four feet, two rings on one side and two rings on the other side. Make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark with them. The poles are to remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed from it. Put the tablets of the testimony that I will give you into the ark. Make a mercy seat of pure gold, 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. Make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.  Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end. At its two ends, make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat. The cherubim are to have wings spread out above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and are to face one another. The faces of the cherubim should be toward the mercy seat.  Set the mercy seat on top of the ark and put the testimony that I will give you into the ark. I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites." Exodus 25:10-22 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

 

Ark of The Covenant as seen from it's ends.

The Ark of The Covenant simplified illustration for Chrismon Pattern.

Scriptures Given for Chrismons Including The of Ark of The Covenant at Christmas:

• ''There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.'' 1 Kings 8:9
• ''There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.'' Exodus 25:22

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Death of the first born...

"But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.' Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel..." Exodus 11:7

Description of Illustration: black and white, Pharaoh expends the first born upon his pride., Egyptians in mourning, God's vengeance

This is what the LORD says: "About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again."

— Exodus 11:4–6

       Before this final plague, God commanded Moses to inform all the Israelites to mark lamb's blood above their doors on every door in which case the LORD will pass over them and not "suffer the destroyer to come into your houses and smite you" (chapter 12, v. 23).

       After this, Pharaoh, furious, saddened, and afraid that he would be killed next, ordered the Israelites to leave, taking whatever they wanted, and asking Moses to bless him in the name of the Lord. The Israelites did not hesitate, believing that soon Pharaoh would once again change his mind, which he did; and at the end of that night Moses led them out of Egypt with "arms upraised". However, as the Jews left Egypt, the Pharaoh changed his mind again and sent his army after Moses' people. The Jews were trapped by the Red Sea. God split the sea, and the Jews were able to pass safely. As the Egyptian army descended on them, the sea closed before they could reach the Jews.

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Wearing the Tallit by Alphonse Levy

Description of the illustration: woodcut, Jewish, Rabbi, shawl, reading in the temple

In addition to the morning prayers of weekdays, Shabbat and holidays, a tallit gadol is also worn for Selichos in Ashkenazic communities by the prayer leader, even though it is still night. A tallit is also worn at night on Yom Kippur, from Kol Nidre, which begins during the daylight hours until after the evening (Ma'ariv) service.

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Jewess of Samarkand

Description of the illustration: fine drawing, native costume, headdress, Bukharan Jews, Russian, greyscale

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Vintage American Flag Illustration

Description of the illustration: stars and stripes, flag waving in the wind, vintage color and design

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Blessing the new moon...

"From now on, this month will be the first month of the year
 for you. Announce to the whole community of Israel that on
 the tenth day of this month each family must choose a
lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each
household." Exodus 12:2-3 (NLT)

       Kiddush Levanah (Hebrew: קידוש לבנה; trans. Sanctification of the Moon) is a Jewish ritual, performed outside at night, in which a series of prayers are recited to bless the new moon.

       The source of the Kiddush Levana is in the Babylonian Talmud, (Sanhedrin 42a), Rabbi Yochanan taught that one who blesses the new moon, in its proper time, is regarded like one who greets the Shechinah (Divine Presence), as it is written in Exodus 12:2:, "This month (is to be for you the beginning of months..)”

       This verse in Exodus 12:2 is the source of what is considered to be the first commandment in the Torah, which is to sanctify the new month, and is based on the lunar calendar. Although Kiddush levana is not the method of sanctifying the new month, we may be able to understand Rabbi Yochanan's opinion that one who ‘blesses the new moon’, is also showing respect to the first commandment in the Torah, and therefore it is like greeting the Shechinah (Divine Presence).

       Many synagogues post the text of the prayer in large type on an outside wall. Read more...

Jesus, The Light of Men

"For so the Lord has commanded us, "I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT
 FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO
 THE END OF THE EARTH." Acts 13:47

Description of Illustrations: black and white drawings of a man in a row boat, lighthouse, calm sea, clouds in back, four different scriptures about Light and Salvation

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory
of the LORD has risen upon you." Isaiah 60:1

"Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness,
 but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light."
 Ephesians 5:7-8

"Others have been with those who rebel against the light;
 They do not want to know its ways Nor abide in its paths."
 Job 24: 13

"I have given you an example..."

"If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet,
you also ought to wash one another's feet." John 13:14

Description of the Illustrations: water pitcher, basin and towel for foot washer, stained glass windows, transparent backgrounds

"When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.
But Jesus called them aside and said, "You know that the rulers of the
Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority
over them. It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants
 to become great among you must be your servant,..." Matthew 20: 24-26

"Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly,
 not grudgingly-- not for what you will get out of it, but because
you are eager to serve God." 1 Peter 5:3

"I Have Given You An Example" John 13:15

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Wells of the oaths at Beer-Sheba

"Then he named the place Beersheba (which means "well of the oath"),
because that was where they had sworn the oath." Genesis 21:31

Description of the Illustration: desert peoples at the wells of Beer-Sheba, 7 wells, Beersheba or "well of the oath" scriptures from Genesis and 2 Chronicles, black and white versions of the illustration

 

"Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he went out among the people,
 traveling from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim,
encouraging the people to return to the LORD, the God of their ancestors."
 2 Chronicles 19:4

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Nehemiah remembers the oaths...

"You made known to them your holy Sabbath and give them commands,
decrees and laws through your servant Moses." Nehemiah 9:14

Description of the Illustration: desert peoples at the wells of Beer-Sheba, 7 wells, three scriptures from Nehemiah illustrated with the wells of Beersheba

"In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you
 brought them water from the rock; you told them to go in and take possession
 of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand to give them." Nehemiah 9:15

"Remember me for this, my God, and do not blot out what I have
 so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services." Nehemiah 13:14

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Praying Hands and Prayers

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
 With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying
 for all the Lord's people." Ephesians 6:18

 Description of Illustration: praying hands, drawing, traditional, prayers from scriptures, greyscale, white background

"Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always."
1 Chronicles 16:11

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to his will,
he hears us." 1 John 5:14

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Scriptures from Nehemiah: Chapters 1 and 2

"Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." Nehemiah 1:3 (NIV)

Description of the illumination: five scriptures to accent a Bible study or sermon on Nehemiah, or journal perhaps, comes in purple, pale green

 

"When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven." Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)

"but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'' Nehemiah 1:9 (NIV)

"but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" Nehemiah 2:3 (NIV)

"but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" Nehemiah 2:5 (NIV)

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Jesse Tree Ornament - The Sun

"And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also." Genesis 1:16 (KJB)

Patterns for crafting a sun symbol for your Jesse tree.

A color suggestion for painting the sun symbol.

       The sun; the great luminary which God created at the beginning, to govern the day. It furnishes a great part of the noble similitudes used by sacred authors, who to represent great public calamity, speak of the sun as being obscured, etc...

• "For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine." Isaiah 13:10
• "Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously." Isaiah 24:23
• "She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD." Jeremiah 15:9
• "And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light." Ezekiel. 32:7
• "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come." Joel 2:31
• "And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:" Amos 8:9

       To express a long continuance of any thing glorious and illustrious, it is said, it shall continue as long as the sun. 

• "His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed." Psalm 72:17
• "His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me." Psalm 89:36

So the reign of the Messiah, under whose happy dominion the light of the moon shall equal that of the sun, and that of the sun be seven times more than ordinary.

• "Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound." Isaiah 30:26

Christ is called the Sun of righteousness,

• "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." Malachi. 4:2

The compass of the whole earth is described by the expression, from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same; or rather, from east to west, 

• "A Psalm of Asaph. The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof." Psalm 50:1
• "And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south." Psalm 107:3
• "From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised." Psalm 113:3

A baker's clay sample of the sun symbol.

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Jesse Tree Ornament - The Camel

"The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence." Genesis 24:7 (KJB)

Two patterns for the camel symbol.

Color suggestion for the camel symbol.

       The servant devised a test in order to find the right wife for Isaac. As he stood at the central well in Abraham's birthplace with his men and ten camels laden with goods, he prayed to God:

"And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master." Genesis 24:14

       To his surprise, a young girl immediately came out and offered to draw water for him to drink, as well as water to fill the troughs for all his camels. Rebekah continued to draw water until all the camels were sated, proving her kind and generous nature and her suitability for entering Abraham's household. The servant immediately gave her a golden nose ring and two golden bracelets (Genesis 24:22), which Rebekah hurried to show her mother. Seeing the jewelry, her brother Laban ran out to greet the guest and bring him inside. The servant recounted the oath he made to Abraham and all the details of his trip to and meeting with Rebekah in fine detail, after which Laban and Bethuel agreed that she could return with him. After hosting the party overnight, however, the family tried to keep Rebekah with them longer. The servant insisted that they ask the girl herself, and she agreed to go immediately. Her family sent her off with her nurse, Deborah (according to Rashi), and blessed her, "Our sister, may you come to be thousands of myriads, and may your offspring inherit the gate of its foes."

A baker's clay version of the camel symbol used to illustrate the
means by which a wife for Isaac was chosen. 

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Jesse Tree Ornament - The Rainbow

"I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh." Genesis 9: 13-15 (KJB)

Patterns for crafting the rainbow symbol for your Jesse tree.

Color suggestion for the rainbow symbol from Genesis.

       Promises of God, are the kind declarations of his word, in which he hath assured us he will bestow blessings upon his people.
       The promises contained in the sacred Scriptures may be considered,
   1.) Divine as to their origin.
   2.) Suitable as to their nature.
   3.) Abundant as to their number.
   4.) Clear as to their expression.
   5.) Certain as to their accomplishment.The consideration of them should,
          a.) Prove an antidote to despair.
          b.) A motive to patience.
          c.) A call for prayer.
          d.) A spur to perseverance

A baker's clay version of the rainbow symbol for a Jesse tree.

• Return To The Jesse Tree Index
• Wrap a rainbow colored wreath for your tree
• How to make a rainbow Christmas tree
• A tour of our rainbow Christmas tree ornaments

Jesse Tree Ornament - The Sandals

"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:" Genesis 12: 1-4 (KJB)

and

"And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him." Genesis 12:7 (KJB)

Patterns for cutting Abraham's sandals from baker's clay.

You will need twine and glue and an embroidery needle along with baker's clay and acrylic paints for this sandal ornament. The holes in the color version of the ornament show where you will need to thread the twine for the upper parts of the sandals. It is also important that you not add feet to your sandals for Abraham. The symbol of Abraham's sandals removed denotes absolute subjugation to God.

Color suggestion for painting the sandals of Abraham.

A baker's clay version of Abraham's sandals.

Sandals, at first, were only soles tied to the feet with strings or thongs; afterwards they were covered; and at last they called even shoes sandals. When Judith went to the camp of Holoderness, it is said she put sandals on her feet; and her sandals ravished his eyes. They were a magnificent kind of buskins, proper only to ladies of condition, and such as dressed themselves for admiration. But there were sandals also belonging to men, and of mean value.

       The business of untying and carrying the sandals being that of a servant, the expressions of the Baptist, "whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose," was an acknowledgement of his great inferiority to Christ, and that Christ was his Lord. To pull off the sandals on entering a sacred place, or the house of a person of distinction, was the usual mark of respect. They were taken care of by the attendant servant. 

Other scripture denotes distinctions made in removing the shoes: In these cases there is a necessary submission to the Lord as supreme authority.

• "And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." Exodus 3:5 (KJB)
• "And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
  " 2 Samuel 15:30 (KJB)
• "At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;" Isaiah 20: 2-3 (KJB)
• "And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey." Joshua 9:13 (KJB)
• "Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe." Ruth 4:7-8 (KJB)
• "Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way." Luke 10:4 (KJB)

Who knew shoes meant so much?

• The Symbolism of the Shoe with Special Reference to Jewish Sources
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Jesse Tree Ornament - The Heart

"And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." Luke 1:28 (KJB)

Pattern for the Jesse tree heart symbol, given to the
Virgin Mary, mother of Christ.

       Mary being espoused to Joseph, the angel Gabriel appeared to her, to announce to her that she should be by a miracle of divine power, the mother of the Messiah. To confirm this message, and to show that nothing is impossible to God, he added that her cousin Elisabeth, who was old, and had been hitherto barren, was then in the sixth month of her pregnancy. Mary thus convinced, answered, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Luke 1:38

       The Hebrews used this word, heart, for the soul, comprehending all its feelings and faculties. Hence are derived many modes of expression. "An honest and good heart," Luke 8:15 is a heart studious of holiness, being prepared by the Spirit of God to receive the word with due affections, dispositions, and resolutions.

A painted, baker's clay heart for the Jesse tree.

       Keeping the heart is a duty enjoined in the sacred Scriptures. It consists, says Mr. Flavel, in the diligent and constant use and improvement of all holy means and duties to preserve the soul from sin, and maintain communion with God; and this, he properly observes, supposes a previous work of sanctification, which hath set the heart right by giving it a new bent and inclination. 

1. It includes frequent observation of the frame of the heart, "I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search." Psalms 77:6
2. Deep humiliation for heart evils and disorders, "Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah." 2 Chronicles 32:26
3. Earnest supplication for heart purifying and rectifying grace, "Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults." Psalm 19:12
4. A constant, holy jealousy over our hearts, "He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him." Proverbs 27:14
5. It includes the realizing of God's presence with us, and setting him before us, "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." Psalm 16:8 and "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect." Genesis 17:1.

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Jesse Tree Ornament - The Apple

"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?" Genesis 3:6-9 (KJB)

Apple and leaf patterns for the Jesse tree.

Color suggestion for painting the apple symbol.

        The apple has long been used to represent our most ancient of ancestors because they changed their relationship to God by eating a type of fruit from the tree of knowledge of both good and evil. Why the apple, of all fruits, got stuck with such a evil association, we may never know. But, I suspect that this unfortunate fruit was selected for the symbol because of it's connections with Adam's apple.

       There are two main theories as to the origin of the term "Adam's apple". The "Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable" and the 1913 edition of Webster's Dictionary point at an ancient belief that a piece of forbidden fruit was embedded in Adam's throat (the first man, according to Abrahamic religions). However, neither the Bible nor other Judeo-Christian or Islamic writings mention such a story. In fact, the biblical story does not even specify the type of fruit that Adam ate.

       Linguist Alexander Gode claimed that the Latin phrase to designate the laryngeal prominence was very probably translated incorrectly from the beginning. The phrase in Latin was "pomum Adami" (literally: 'Adam's apple'). This, in turn, came from the Hebrew "tappuach ha adam" meaning "apple of man". The confusion lies in the fact that in Hebrew language the proper name "Adam" (אדם) literally means "man", while the Hebrew word "apple" means "swollen", thus in combination: the swelling of a man.  Proponents of this version contend that the subsequent phrases in Latin and other Romance languages represent a mistranslation from the start.

       Nonetheless, artists throughout history seem to have selected this fruit to represent the fall of Adam and Eve no matter what any of the rest of us may say or believe in the apples' defense.

       The fall, is a topic of great importance that should not be avoided when teaching young ones. However, it may be taught in a positive way through it's association with: 

1. The naming of the first man and woman. and...
2. Christ's coming to save the race of man from spiritual exile.

        The apostle Paul speaks to the congregation at Corinth about the first man and woman in relationship to Christ. Christ being the second man to replace Adam and Christ being the one who saves us from the fall by defeating the serpent that had so beguiled Eve.

       Adam; the name of the first man, the progenitor of the human race. It is derived from Adamah, which, in Hebrew and in all the oriental languages, originally signifies vegetable earth, or mould; and there seems to be an allusion to this derivation in 1 Corinthians 15:47-49. where, in relation to the two great heads of the human race, the natural and supernatural, the apostle says, "The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." Those who love God and follow Christ are eventually allowed to eat the fruit of the tree of life.

• What is the meaning of the tree of life?  

       Eve; the name of the first woman: Chava in Hebrew, is derived from the same root as chajim, life; because she was to be "the mother of all living." It is believed she was created on the sixth day, after Adam had reviewed the animals. The apostle refers to the fall when he speaks of the Eve to the early converts in 2 Corinthians 11:3 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." Through his death and resurrection, Christ redeems all that was lost through the deception of the mother of our race and restores us all to Eden.

• How Eden is Restored?

Left, you can see that I have cut the apple from baker's clay, scratched it's surface and smoothed on a tiny bit of water before pressing the leaf gently on top of the apple's surface. Right, here I have painted my apple bright red and the leaf green and the stem brown. Seal the finished clay ornaments with clear acrylic spray after it has dried.

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Jesse Tree Ornament - The Shell

"For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." Matthew 3:3 (KJB)

Patterns for the Jesse Tree Shell Symbol.

Color suggestion for painting the shell symbol.

"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 3:1-3 (KJB)

A painted sample of the shell symbol on
the Jesse Tree.

       The baptism of John was evidently a preparatory ordinance. He came to "prepare the way of the Lord." He preached to the people that the Messiah was coming, and exhorted them to prepare to receive him; and in order that they might be prepared, called them to repentance and baptism. 

       One part of the design of John's baptism as stated by himself, shows it to have been entirely distinct from Christian baptism: "That he (Christ) should be made manifest to Israel, therefore I come baptizing with water," John 1: 31. It was an important part of the object of John's ministry and baptism, to point out the Messiah of the Jewish people, bear public testimony in his behalf, and induct him, by the washing of water, into the ministry. 

       Christian baptism originated in the express command of Christ: "Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 

• Return to The Jesse Tree Index
• Craft tear drop shaped Chrismons with shells 
• Handmade Pearl Ornament
• Baptism tags at Christian Clip Art Review 

Jesse Tree Ornament - The Red Rope

"Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee." Joshua 2:18 (KJB)

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"By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace." Hebrews 11:31 (KJB)

For this Jesse tree symbol, roll out three long ropes of clay on a floured surface and braid these together. Paint Rahab's rope red and hang it on your Jesse tree to remember her bravery.

       Rahab; an hostess of the city of Jericho, who received and concealed the spies sent by Joshua. The Hebrew calls her zuneh, (Joshua 2:1) which Jerome and many others understand of a prostitute. Others, however, think she was only a hostess or innkeeper, and that this is the true signification of the original word, from zoom, to provide food. Had she been a woman of ill fame, would Salmon, a prince of the tribe of Judah, have taken her to wife? Or could he have done it by the law? Besides, the spies of Joshua would hardly have gone to lodge with a common harlot, they who were charged with so nice and dangerous a commission. Those who maintain that she was a harlot, pretend that she perhaps one of those women who prostituted themselves in honor of pagan deities. But such women are called kadeshah, not zuneh, in the Hebrew.

       Rahab married Salmon, a prince of Judah, by whom she had Boaz, from whom descended Obed, Jesse, and David. Thus Jesus Christ condescended to reckon this Canaanitish woman among his ancestors. St. Paul magnifies the faith of Rahab, 

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