If you’ve read the beginning of the new testament, you know it’s a lot of “begats”. I have to admit that I’ve been guilty of skipping through the genealogy. But, I’ve been told, if it’s in the Bible, it’s there for a reason.
Here’s a link to Jon’s sermon if you’d like to listen. That way you don’t miss anything!
In today’s sermon, our pastor, Jon Porter, reminded us of the importance of the lineage of the Messiah. One would expect to see a lot of royalty in the heritage of the Son, but when we look closer we find some pretty colorful characters!
Jon pointed out that Abraham had a tendency to lie. His son’s name, Jacob, means “cheater”. Jacob’s son Judah and his brothers sold their brother, Joseph into slavery. Judah was seduced by his daughter in law (who’d been married to 2 of his sons), Tamar. Their child is part of the line of Christ’s earthly lineage. Jesus is called the “Lion of Judah”.
You get the idea, right? But it doesn’t stop there King David was a murderer and adulterer. Rahab was a prostitute. Ruth was an immigrant. She wasn’t even Jewish.
It goes on and on. Murder, adultery, incest, prostitution, false worship, cheats, and liars Why would God use these imperfect people in the family line of the Messiah? God had a plan to save his people and he wants us to know he is in control. He took us through dark years of famine, slavery, wandering in the desert, and exile the the birth of his Son. A young mother and a carpenter for a father of the Savior who gave his all so that we would be able to be forgiven of our sins.
Jon reminded us that none of our stories have turned out exactly the way we planned. We’ve all done something that would disqualify us from God’s presence.
What if at the end of history, the question God asks us is not whether we abstained from sin?
What if the question is “Did you enter into the joy that was available to you?”
Out of humanities mess, God was still able to complete his plan to give grace to us when we don’t deserve it. Just as the Messiah came out of the mess of his lineage, we can mess up and still receive God’s forgiveness because Jesus steps up and claims us as his own.
What a special time of year Christmas is. If you pass through this season without focusing on the birth of Jesus, you’ve missed the true miracle of the holiday. I hope that you can take some time during this season to reflect on the journey of faith you are walking. With God, you can overcome any darkness in your life and Jesus is the light in the world.
Merry Christmas!
In Faith,
Pam
Where God Leads 