Many churches have stained-glass windows of the Tree of Jesse. This is a family tree of Jesus. Jesse was the father of King David of Israel. King David was the first king to really bring together the whole of Israel, and his time is seen as a happy and successful one for the people of Israel.
In Matthew’s gospel he says there are 29 generations from Jesse to Jesus. Usually the stained glass window makers can’t fit them all in, so they only put in the more important ones.
Here we have a picture of a big stained-glass picture of the tree of Jesse in the Cathedral at Chartres in France. Click on the picture to see the full sized window. Jesse is at the bottom lying down on his bed and Jesus is at the top as Christ the King.
Working it Out
1. How many other people can you count on Jesse’s tree? How many generations are listed in the Gospel of Luke between Jesse, the father of King David and Jesus? Are they the same?
2. How far back can you go with your family tree – ask parents and grandparents?
3. King David was a famous king of Israel. See 1 Samuel 16
There were many people in his story; what were the following famous for: You could retel one of these stories in your own words. Goliath – 1 Samuel 17:4
Saul – 1 Samuel 18
Jonathan – 1 Samuel 18:1-5 & 19:1-3
Solomon – 1 Kings 2:1
