Introduction to Advent

Pause and Reflect

Advent is here—a season to stop, to pause, and to draw near to the heart of Jesus. It's not just a countdown to Christmas; it's an invitation to embrace the deeper story of God's love—a love that pursues us across time, through promises, stories, and ultimately, through the birth of Jesus. During Advent, we reflect on the profound mystery of God coming to restore all things through His Son.

Longing for Christ's Return

Advent is not only a time of waiting for Christmas, but it's a season that invites us to long for the day when Jesus will return to make all things new. We are reminded that He came to restore shalom—peace, wholeness, and healing for our hearts, our relationships, and the world. As we await His return, we remember the significance of His first coming: a humble birth that brought the hope of restoration and peace to a broken world.

God's Plan of Restoration

Through the birth of Jesus, God's plan to heal all things began. It is a plan of love, redemption, and peace—a shalom that Jesus inaugurated through His life, death, and resurrection. Advent is a time to reflect on this deep mystery, to renew our hope, and to live in the reality of God's Kingdom, both now and forever.

The Jesse Tree: God's Plan of Redemption

What is the Jesse Tree?

The Jesse Tree takes its name from a verse in Isaiah 11:1: "Out of the stump of Jesse will grow a shoot—yes, a new branch bearing fruit from the old root." This promise, made long ago, pointed to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, from the line of David (Jesse's son).

What do the ornaments represent?

Each ornament on the Jesse Tree represents key moments in history that point forward to Jesus. As you walk through these Bible stories, you'll see how God has been at work throughout history to bring His promise to fruition. The Jesse Tree reminds us that God is not distant or uninterested in us; He has been actively pursuing us since the very beginning, seeking to restore us to Himself.

How does the Jesse Tree connect to Jesus?

These stories show us that God's plan to redeem the world was set in motion long before the first Christmas, and it continues to unfold even today. The Jesse Tree invites us to reflect on God's great love and faithfulness and to see how Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise to send a Savior through the line of David. Each ornament brings us closer to understanding how Jesus, the Messiah, came to bring peace—shalom—to all creation.

Jesus, the Savior Who Restores All Things

God's Love Story

At the heart of Advent is the story of God's love for us. Jesus came into the world not only to be born in a manger but to rescue us from the brokenness of sin. From the very beginning, God's desire has been to restore His creation and bring us back into relationship with Him.

Experiencing Shalom

Through Jesus, we are invited to experience the restoration of shalom—peace, wholeness, and healing for our hearts, our relationships, and the world. This shalom is not just something we hope for in the future, but something we can experience now, through our relationship with Jesus.

The Promised Messiah

Jesus is the promised Messiah who brings us back to God, restoring what was lost and healing what is broken. As we celebrate Advent, we not only look back at the birth of Jesus but also look forward to His return, when He will restore all things to perfect peace and wholeness.

King of Shalom

Advent is not just about remembering a baby in a manger; it's about the King who came to heal, restore, and bring shalom to the world. Through Him, we have been invited to live in the reality of God's Kingdom—a Kingdom of mercy, justice, and peace.

God's Kingdom: Now and Forever

Kingdom Now

Through Jesus, the Kingdom of God has come near. When we place our faith in Christ, we are invited to live as citizens of God's Kingdom right now. But God's Kingdom is not just a future hope—it's a present reality. As we follow Jesus, we are called to live out the values of His Kingdom today, sharing God's love, peace, and justice with the world.

Active Participants

Advent reminds us that Jesus did not simply come to start something for the future—He came to usher in God's Kingdom now. As citizens of His Kingdom, we are not passive observers but active participants in His work of restoration. We are called to live out His values of peace, justice, mercy, and love in the world around us.

Kingdom Coming

While we live in the "already but not yet" of God's Kingdom, we also wait for the full and complete restoration of all things. Advent calls us to live in hope and anticipation, trusting that one day Jesus will return to bring peace, heal the brokenness of creation, and restore all things to their original perfection. Until that day, we live as ambassadors of His Kingdom, sharing His love and light in a world still in need of His healing.

The Choice Between Trees: Trust or Define?

The Garden Choice

Advent also invites us to reflect on the choice between trees—the choice made in the Garden of Eden, and the choice we still face today. In the Garden, Adam and Eve were presented with the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. They chose to trust their own understanding of good and evil rather than trusting God's goodness. That decision led to the brokenness we experience today.

Jesus as the New Tree of Life

Advent is a time to reflect on that choice and to remember that Jesus is the new Tree of Life. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He has made a way for us to return to God, to trust in His goodness, and to receive the peace and restoration He offers.

Our Daily Choice

Each day of Advent, as we reflect on the stories in the Jesse Tree, we are invited to choose once again: Will we trust in God's promises, or will we try to define good and evil on our own? Through Jesus, God has made a way back to Himself, inviting us to trust in His plan and receive the peace (shalom) He offers.

How to Celebrate Advent with the Jesse Tree

Read and Reflect

Each day, read the Bible story that corresponds with the day's Jesse Tree ornament. Reflect on how each story points to Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart about how God's love has been at work throughout history.

Consider the Choice

As you read the stories, remember the choice made in the Garden of Eden: to trust God's goodness or try to define what is good on our own. Advent is a time to reflect on how we make this choice in our own lives.

Create Visual Reminders

Make or purchase ornaments that represent the Bible stories you're reading. Each ornament helps visually connect you to the unfolding story of God's redemption. This is a meaningful way to remember the greater story of Jesus during Advent.

Pray and Worship

Spend time in prayer each day, thanking God for His love and for sending Jesus to save us. Light an Advent candle, sing a worship song, or simply sit in quiet reflection, remembering the wonder of God's love for you.

A Time of Waiting, Reflecting, and Preparing

Wait

Advent is a time to wait—not just for Christmas, but for Jesus to return and restore all things. It's a time to reflect on God's love for us, His faithfulness throughout history, and His promises for the future.

Love

Jesus is the Savior who came to restore all things, and through Him, we can experience peace (shalom) now and forever. May this Advent deepen your love for Jesus, renew your hope in His promises, and help you see His work in your life and in the world around you.

Share

As you wait for His return, live as an ambassador of His Kingdom, sharing His love and peace with others and eagerly anticipating the day when all things will be made new.