Years ago I was asked if I preached on the genealogy of
Jesus At Christmas time. I replied yes to which the person questioning me asked
what you preach about the genealogy? I find Jesus genealogy rather interesting.
The most interesting genealogy to me is the one we find in Matthew chapter 1. I
find it most interesting because this particular genealogy includes five women.
As humans we tend to hide from others what we might think is damaging to
ourselves and our reputation. Matthew, on the other hand, included these five
women who had some questionable backgrounds.
First of all they were women in a predominantly male
directed society. Tamar, through a series of events we can find in Genesis 38,
dressed up like a harlot and seduced her father-in-law Judah to sleep with her
so she could have a son and keep the inheritance for her first late husband
Er.
Secondly there's Rahab. She was unknown harlot, she was not
a Jew nor was she an Israelite. Yet God chose her to protect the spies sent
into Jericho to scout for the upcoming battle and include her in the genealogy.
Thirdly there's Ruth. A wonderful story of redemption.
However, she had some difficult barriers to overcome as well. She was a Moabite
and her only connection to Israel was by marriage. After she lost her first
husband that connection seemed to fade away. She is then married to Boaz after
the first kinsman redeemer refuses to marry her.
Fourthly there's Bathsheba. She is the one with whom David
commits adultery. David then has her husband Uriah killed to hide the sin. Yet we find her mentioned in Jesus genealogy.
The last woman that is mentioned is Mary the mother of
Jesus. She was betrothed to Joseph but was with child before they were actually
married. In that day that carried the penalty of death. One couldn't hide
pregnancy forever. It was absolutely scandalous.
If these kind of difficulties were in my past I would
probably try to hide some of those things. But I think there's a reason God
allows those individuals to be mentioned in Jesus genealogy. Consider the
barriers: gender, nationality, religion, and sin. Three of them were created by
God: gender, nationality, religion. Both God and man can cross those barriers.
The fourth barrier sin, which was man-made can only be crossed by God. God crossed all of those barriers and sent
His Son Jesus to die for mankind. What grace and mercy!
