Advent lessons - the hanging of the green!

Do you have some Christmas ornaments that are special to you?
Well, of course, we all do!
They may be very old, passed down from generations before. Or they may be newer, made by some of the youngest members of the family.
These are precious to us because of the meaning they convey. They have significance to us. They are precious.

Some churches today hold a service of preparation for the Messiah's coming, and they will include verses and the hanging of greenery which is associated with everlasting life. Cedar boughs are for royalty, holly symbolizes Christ's death, and ivy represents the resurrection. Pine and fir boughs represent eternal life. In their services, the congregations will sometimes also decorate a tree, much as folks do in their homes.

Many people have cultivated the tradition of decorating their trees with symbols of Christ.
Some use the "Jesse" tree as a part of their celebrations. The Jesse Tree tradition originated in medieval times, when carvings and bits of manuscripts were attached to a tree. The tradition was based on this verse in Isaiah's prophesies:

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. (Isaiah 11:1)

Some of the ornaments or manuscripts on the Jesse tree will be a globe (symbolizing creation), a ram (pointing us to the story of Abraham ready to sacrifice Isaac), a sheaf of wheat (Ruth's place in the genealogy of Christ), or a building (Micah's prophecy of Jesus' birthplace). The Jesse tree focuses on the thread of redemption that winds its way through the Old Testament, leading to the birth of the Messiah.

Other believers will decorate what is called a Chrismon tree. These designs are centuries old, and represent in symbols the heritage of all believers. You will see three main colors on the tree ornaments: red, white, and gold -- Christ's blood, His purity, and His majesty. I found in my studies that early Christians used many of these (I knew about the icthus (fish) but not about these) to designate hidden meeting places, show unbelievers the roots of their faith, and more.
Here are some of the Chrismons and their meanings:

Ornaments made with pearl colored beads - In Matthew, Jesus says that God is like the merchant's pearl. It may cost us everything to know Him, but He is worth more than anything else in our world. The Pearl of Great Price.....perfect, pure, and white.

Angel ornaments - Angels are God's messengers, and belong to His heavenly court. They are devoted to doing His bidding and praising and glorifying Him. They were present at both the nativity and the resurrection.

Crowns - The crown is worn to symbolize honor, victory, or royalty. The Christian is urged in the New Testament to train and live to gain a crown, and that God will reward us in the last day.

Wreaths - Because the wreath is round, it represents eternal life; there is no beginning or end to the circle. It reminds us that God was and always is.

Crosses - Chrismon crosses are the symbols of God's love for sinful man. God provided salvation through Jesus' death and resurrection. The cross is also the symbol of discipleship. Jesus taught that suffering was to characterize the life experiences of His followers, just as it did His own. The four points of the cross remind us to take His gospel message of love to the four corners of the earth.

Purple ornaments - We've studied previously that the color purple, and the dye used to create purple fabric, were marks of high rank and nobility. The very high cost of the dye, made from the murex shellfish, made purple something only wealthy and noble people could afford to wear. It was a status symbol as well as a mark of royalty and rank. Jesus, born of royalty, from the line of Judah, is our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Dove ornaments - doves and young pigeons are sometimes used interchangeably in the Old Testament, and were used as sacrifices. In Luke 2, a pair of doves or pigeons were brought by Mary and Joseph as they obeyed the law concerning their first-born son. And, at the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit appeared as a dove.

Star ornaments - The Magi from the East saw His star and came to worship Jesus. The star is one of the great symbols of Christmas because the star announced the birth of Christ. It led them to worship the new King, and it reminds us to worship, also.

Bells - The bells ring out the good news of Christ's coming to earth as our Savior. They tell us to come and worship, singing our joy at Jesus' birth.

Candles - The prophet Isaiah said that the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. He said of Himself, "I am the Light of the world."

Perhaps your tree has ornaments like these, that tell the beautiful story of God's love. Maybe that is why so many secular folks nowadays oppose Christmas trees! These simple symbols present the gospel story in a way that no one can misunderstand. Christmas is about Jesus Christ. It's about God coming in the flesh. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." It's about the glory of God, visiting here on earth.
I hope as we decorate our trees this year, we will pause and thank Him for His love, His plan, and His Son. And that we will tell others of the wondrous story!