My great-grandfather was named Jesse T. Rees. But when I Googled his name the other day, I got “Jesse Trees” (Jesse T.rees) — and not just one site, but dozens.
So having never planted or pruned one, I decided to read up on the things.
It turns out Jesse Trees are a type of Christmas tree. In fact, in Old Europe, they were as popular as poplars.
Chartres Cathedral in France and the Canterbury Cathedral in England have stained glass windows depicting Jesse Trees. One of the most famous Jesse Tree windows is in the St. Louis Abbey in Missouri.
My guess is most everyone has seen one at some point, but had no idea what they were looking at.
So here’s the short answer: A Jesse Tree is a drawing or sculpture that depicts the genealogy of Jesus — his family tree, in other words.
The Prophet Isaiah planted the seed for all the Jesse Trees when he wrote: “And there shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots” (Isaiah 11:1).
That’s why, in paintings of your garden variety Jesse Tree, you will see aging Jesse lying at the bottom with a tree growing from his side. On the branches above sit David, Solomon and other notables from the lineage of Jesus. Jesus himself is usually cast as the “angel” at the top.
Over time, people began adding their own flourishes to their Jesse Trees.
Today, most Jesse Trees are decorated with Old Testament images that point to the advent of Jesus.
You’ll often find the brazen serpent that Moses held up on a stick to heal the Children of Israel.
You’ll find Isaac (an innocent son who was to be sacrificed), Jonah (three days in the whale/tomb) and even a Rose of Sharon (a flower that brings life to the wilderness).
If you feel yourself catching the spirit of it all and want to make a Jesse Tree, decorated with the Old Testament signs and symbols of Christ, then buy, borrow or rent-to-own a copy of James Ferrell’s book, “The Hidden Christ” (Deseret Book, 2009).
Ferrell makes the case that it’s hard to turn a page of the Old Testament without catching a glimpse of Jesus.
Jesus is there in Adam (who took upon himself death so that all might live), Abigail (who took the sinner’s iniquity on her head although she was innocent) and the Ancient Temple (the light, water, bread and mercy seat of the interior).
And those are just the A’s.
Ferrell even makes a case for burly, brutal old Sampson being God’s foreshadowing of the Savior.
In the end, after finding all those Jesse Tree websites, I read about them for most of an hour. I never did find an entry for my Granddad Rees.
Truth to tell, I doubt he ever heard of Jesse Trees.
On the other hand, he did sprout a sturdy legacy with strong roots and expanding branches.
Granddad Jesse T. Rees never heard of Jesse Trees.
He just was one.
Email: jerjohn@deseretnews.com