Jesse Tree - Week 3
December 11-17

Day 15, December 11: Solomon

1 Kings 3:3-14 Solomon followed his father, David, as king of Israel.  God had offered Solomon anything he wished for and was pleased when instead of riches or glory Solomon asked for wisdom to rule his kingdom.  Solomon is also remembered for the beautiful temple he built for God in Jerusalem.  The temple served the people of Israel as the central place of worship for over 350 years.

Day 16, December 12: Elijah

2 Kings 2:11-18 The prophet Elijah lived 900 years before Jesus at a time when Israel was ruled by weak kings and the people worshiped false gods.  God gave Elijah much spiritual power to convince the Israelites to return to their true God.  When his job on earth was done, God sent a chariot of fire that swept Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind.

Day 17, December 13: Isaiah

Isaiah 2:4; 7:14; 9:6-7 Isaiah, anther great prophet of the Old Testament, lived near the city of Jerusalem about 700 years before Christ.  He gave hope to the Israelites that peace would come to their nation, “and they shall beat their swords into plowshares.”  He also foretold the birth of a child would be called “Emmanuel, “which means “God is with us.”  This child was Jesus. 

Day 18, December 14: Daniel

Daniel 6:10-23 Daniel was among the people of God who were captured by King Nebuchadnezzar and taken to Babylon.  There, Daniel became a friend and advisor to the king.  The king was tricked into signing a law that condemned Daniel to death.  For praying to his God, Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den.  But Daniel was not harmed.  God answered his prayers and sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths.

Day 19, December 15: Jonah

Jonah 1-4 Jonah was told by God to go to the city of Nineveh to warn the people to turn away from their wicked ways.  Instead of obeying God, Jonah tried to run away.  He boarded a ship, but God sent a storm and Jonah was tossed overboard and swallowed by a whale.  Jonah lived within the whale for three days, praying to God for forgiveness.  Finally, the whale spat him out on dry land.  This time Johan obeyed and preached God’s message so well that all of the people of Nineveh repented and were saved.

Day 20, December 16: Zechariah and Elizabeth

Luke 1:5-23 Elderly Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin, prayed for many years for God to give them a child.  One day an angel appeared to Zechariah and told him Elizabeth would bear a son who was to be named John.  John would be the prophet promised by God to help prepare the people for the coming of the Savior.  Because Zechariah could not believe what the angel told him, he was made mute and could not speak until after his son was born.  

Day 21, December 17: John the Baptist
 Matthew 3:1-11 Six months before Jesus was born, Elizabeth gave birth to a son and she and Zechariah named him John as the angel instructed.  When John grew up he preached that people should repent for their sins and be baptized.  He baptized hundreds of people, including his cousin, Jesus.  This is how he became known as John the Baptist.