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The ornaments to print out for the Jesse Tree
Understanding the  Jesse Tree

Tuesday of the First Week of Advent     
Adam and Eve and the Apple    
Gen 3:1-7 (NRSV)

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?”  The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden;  but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’”  But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.  Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

The story of Adam and Eve and the first sin transcends time in that it is how sin continues to enter into the world.  Human beings want to decide for themselves what is good and evil, often times, it is with our limited knowledge and experience responding more to our passions than to the revelation of God, the gift of reason and the experience of the ages.  History has repeatedly shown that when we reject the gift of natural law and divine law, it does not go well for us.  Eve knew what God said, and she repeats it back to the serpent.  The serpent, after placing doubt in Eve, continues to contradict God as if creatures know better than the creator.  Moreover, the serpent continues his work by putting animosity and resentment between God and Eve.  Now, she desires the very thing that harms her and is convinced that it is good, delightful, and a source of wisdom.  The serpent who is the first to turn from God, drags Eve into it, and Eve brings Adam into it.  How often do we bring people into our sins teaching and telling them what is not for their good.  Sin changes us, hurts relationships and destroys trust, truth, goodness and love.  Some of these effects can only be repaired by God.  Jesus, entering into creation, came to repair the damage done to our relationship with Him when we sin. 
 

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God they were not alone. They were tempted by Satan who was in the form of a serpent. The serpent spoke to Eve saying things that caused her to doubt God's goodness. Eve ate the fruit from the tree and so did Adam. Eating the fruit was sin, and they were ashamed. Because they disobeyed God they had to leave His garden. There is always a consequence for sin, and even the serpent was punished. God is holy and cannot ignore sin, but He is also loving, and provides a way out from sin. He gave Adam and Eve a promise that H e would make a way to cover the people's sin. God's promise was for a savior, one who would bring sinful people back to him, and defeat Satan.

Have a conversation about the effects of sin with your relationship with God, with  the family, and with family and other people.  This could include the lost of trust and honesty or the hurt it causes members of the family and of friends.  End with a discussion about the need to say, "I am sorry" and to ask for forgiveness.