The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Matthew 1:1 English Standard Version
Growing up there was one portion
of Christmas I did not look forward to, the reading of the genealogy of Jesus. The
reader would stand up and drone on and on with a list of near unpronounceable names
of people I did not know. Why should I care about men, and a few women, who
were long dust in their graves? I grew up in a congregation which believed that
hearing and understanding the word of God was a significant component of our
faith. We believed, and I still do, that God’s word is important and speaks to
me across the millennia. Now, that does not mean all scripture carries the same
impact in all seasons of my life, but none of it should be discarded. Today,
the genealogies mean much more to me than they did to my younger self,
squirming in the pew, hoping to get on to whatever was next.
The genealogies help ground Jesus
in a specific time, place, and faith community. When I read the lists closely,
I find some interesting things that help strengthen my faith. I’m surprised at
the list of “scoundrels” that God used to secure His son’s place in history. Jesus’
genealogy contains murders, philanderers, bigamists, a prostitute, a swindler,
and a weak-kneed husband or two. That gives me hope. After all, my genealogy also
contains a few questionable people. Not everyone that contributed to my
heritage was especially upright. If the savior of the world can list such ne’er-do-wells
in His official biography, then perhaps I should not worry about my own
questionable forefathers. In some communities and cultures, ancestors count.
Even in our own egalitarian culture, coming from the “wrong side of the tracks”
can limit one’s prospects. Reading Jesus’ genealogy reminds me that not only does
my background not determine my future, it also should not cause me to look askance
at someone else. I dare not turn up my nose at someone’s pedigree…or my own.
Truth be told, I’m much closer to
the malcontents and miscreants than Jesus. Some of you that might read this
know well my own misdeeds as many of them were distressingly public. When I read
Jesus’ genealogy, I’m reminded that God can still use me despite my own
failings and weakness. God uses the weakest and most failed among us to move
His plan forward. I would not choose a prostitute as part of the family tree,
but God did. He sees potentials that I do not. He looks past the dirty messy
places and envisions something new, something better, and at times, something
wonderful. Where I see failure, He sees opportunity. Jesus did not hide behind a
sterling family tree. He presented it with all the blemishes, nuts, and failures
out in the open for all to see. When I focus on my own failures, Advent reminds
me that God can work with them, bringing about a future that I could not dream
of.
Now I enjoy the long list of
forebearers. I still cannot pronounce all the names and I do not know all their
stories, but I know enough. I do not need to hang my head in shame when
confronted with the dark spots of my heritage. They are there, but they do not
define my family, or me. I also know that I’m not too far gone to be of use to
God, the God of resurrection, and neither are you. So, this advent season, take
a few minutes and read the genealogy of Jesus and savor the fact that God used
this rather motley crew to bring about something great. If He used them for
wonderful, He will use you for wonderful too.
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