With your name on it
Have you ever reflected on the genealogy of Jesus?
The New Testament opens in Matthew chapter 1 with the family tree of Jesus. From it we learn there were 42 generations from Abraham to Jesus’ earthly father Joseph. At face value, the list of men and women in Jesus’ bloodline seems a dull, exhaustive and cumbersome read. But behind their stories is a rich tapestry of grace, love, forgiveness, redemption and restoration!
Imperfect relatives
Rahab the former prostitute who hid the Jewish spies from local law enforcement before the demolition of Jericho—the most fortified city of its time—is on the list. She became the mother of Boaz. Boaz married his cousin’s ex-wife Ruth—an immigrant from a foreign tribe—and redeemed both her and her mother-in-law Naomi from a life of poverty and shame.
Ruth and Boaz are the great-great grandparents of David who was not even considered of the ilk of leadership when the selection was being made among his brothers for Israel’s next king. Yet, God choose him.
David experienced great feats and embarrassing failures, nevertheless, God described him as “a man after God’s own heart” because of David’s unwavering commitment to do whatever God said. And God crowned David’s loyalty with the promise that David’s throne shall be established forever (2 Samuel 7:16).
Ultimate kinsman redeemer
When we arrive at Jesus Christ—the Messiah—the Savior of the world describes himself as “the root and offspring of David” (Revelations 22:16).
Jesus’ ancestors were certainly not a pure, perfect bunch. Among them were priests and prophets, pimps and prostitutes, rejects and regents. Yet God was not ashamed to name all of them in his family tree. He didn’t despise or omit any of them because of their weaknesses or flaws. Instead, he intentionally published all their names in a public record for all to know that they belonged to his special family. And in this lineage there is room for you and I too.
For God so love the world that he sent Jesus as the ultimate kinsman redeemer, making it possible for all humanity to be adopted into God’s eternal family. (John 3:16). “For God did not send his son into the world, to condemn the world, but to save the world through him,” (John 3:17).
In Jesus culminates a rich heritage of grace, love, compassion, forgiveness, redemption and restoration to flawed humanity.
Through Jesus, we each have the opportunity to become a part of God’s eternal family. “Not by works least any man should boast. For it is by grace you are saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Romans 2:8-9).
What a gift?! What an invitation! What a promise. What an assurance, to know that God desires and has made a way to add your name to his eternal family tree. Now that’s the greatest gift of Christmas!
Tune in to CHAYIL Conversations with Pat Francis on Facebook Live, Tuesdays at 7pm EST for powerful and interactive discussions that feature real stories of solutions and hope. #ChayilConversations
About CHAYIL GLORY
CHAYIL glory is the all-powerful, great glory of God manifested in and through his believers in the earth. The CHAYIL GLORY blog is published every Monday with insights to understand and apply God’s perspective to everyday life.
