Have you ever wondered about your family history? Maybe you've done some digging on Ancestry.com or flipped through old family photo albums. But what if your family tree included some less-than-stellar characters? Would you be tempted to leave them out?
As we approach Christmas, I want to take you on a journey through Jesus' family tree. Trust me, it's not what you might expect – and that's precisely why it matters so much for us today.
The Not-So-Perfect Lineage of the Perfect Savior
When we open the New Testament to Matthew chapter 1, we're immediately hit with a long list of names. I know, I know – it's tempting to skip right over it. But hang with me, because hidden in this genealogy is a beautiful truth about the nature of God's love and the real meaning of Christmas.
Matthew starts his gospel by tracing Jesus' ancestry from Abraham to David and all the way to Jesus himself. But here's the kicker: this isn't a sanitized, "best of" highlight reel. Instead, it's a brutally honest account that includes some pretty questionable characters.
Let's take a look at a few:
1. Manasseh: A king who "did what was evil in the Lord's sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations" (2 Kings 21:2).
2. Tamar: A woman who used seduction to get what she wanted (you can find her story in Genesis 38 – it's quite the page-turner).
3. Rahab: Often referred to as "Rahab the prostitute."
4. Ruth: A foreigner who, by all rights, shouldn't have been part of this lineage at all.
5. David: Yes, the great King David, but remember his affair with Bathsheba and the subsequent cover-up.
The Good News of Christmas
So why does Matthew include these less-than-perfect individuals in Jesus' family tree? Because it points us to two incredible truths about Christmas:
Christmas is Truly Good News
The inclusion of flawed individuals in Jesus' genealogy reminds us that Christmas is truly good news. It's good news that people like me and people like you can still be a part of the story. We don't have to have it all figured out. We don't have to be perfect. We don't have to have all the answers. We are still welcomed into the story of God."
This is what we mean when we talk about the "gospel." The word "gospel" comes from the Greek "euangelion" – "eu" meaning good, and "angelion" meaning message or news. The gospel isn't just good advice – it's good news. As Tim Keller puts it, "The gospel is not good advice. It's good news."
Christmas is for Everyone
The message of Christmas is open and available to any person, regardless of what they've done or where they've been. This genealogy shows us that being perfect or good enough isn't a prerequisite for following Jesus. Being well-liked or having it all put together isn't a prerequisite for following Jesus.
Jesus came for everyone – your difficult neighbor, your estranged family member, the person who cut you off in traffic. And here's the best news of all: Jesus came for you.
Christmas: A Mound of Meaning
I've been reading a book called "Rediscovering Christmas" by A.J. Sherrill, and he uses a fascinating analogy. He compares Christmas to the city of Tel Aviv in Israel. "Tel" means a mound built up over time, layer upon layer. "Aviv" means spring. Christmas, Sherrill suggests, is like a "Tel" – a mound of meaning that has built up over time.
At the base of this mound is the simple, profound truth: Christ is born. Everything else – Santa, movies, parties – has been layered on top. These aren't necessarily bad things, but sometimes we need to dig down to that foundational layer and remember where it all began.
Putting It Into Practice
As we approach Christmas this year, I want to challenge you to do a little excavation in your own life:
1. Reflect on your own story: How has God worked through your imperfections and struggles?
2. Extend grace: Remember that Jesus' love extends to everyone – even those you might find difficult to love.
3. Share the good news: Who in your life needs to hear that Christmas is for them too?
4. Dig down to the foundation: Amidst the busyness of the season, take time to reflect on the core truth – Christ is born.
Remember, because of the story of Christmas, there's a place in the story for you. No matter where you've been or what you've done, you're invited to be part of this incredible story of God's love.
This Christmas, let's celebrate the ordinary miracle of a Savior who came for all of us – the good, the bad, and the in-between. Because that's what makes Christmas truly good news.