He Didn't Come to Save Some . . .
Have you ever spent time on a specific chapter of the Bible? Perhaps there is a passage or verse that you continuously meditate on; one that you can't shake. My Friend, I’ve spent the last two days in Matthew 1:1-17. “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham . . .”
Usually, people meditate on a Psalm, a Proverb, or one of Paul's letters. It makes me laugh that the genealogy of Jesus is where God has me parked.
I can’t seem to move away from these verses. Some see a boring list of unpronounceable names. But if you look closer, you will see the treasure.
“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
Matthew 1:1 KJV
STUDY the Word.
The word “genealogy” in the original Greek is γένεσις meaning "Genesis." With the birth of Jesus, Matthew introduces us to a new Genesis, a new beginning, and a brand new day. The Book of Genesis introduces the first Adam while Matthew introduces the last Adam.
The Good. The Bad. The Ugly.
When you look at the list of names in this genealogy, you may wonder why God chose this rag-tag group. He chose the good, the bad, and the ugly. Let's check out a few unique aspects of Jesus’ family tree ... a tree that you and I are now grafted into as children of God. (John 1:12)
THE WOMEN.
First, we see that there are five women mentioned. Jewish genealogies did not include women. The lines were traced through the men. This would have been an incredible shock to the religiously pious. Especially since in Ancient Israel, men would start their days in a prayer that went something like this, “God, I thank you that I was not born a Gentile, a servant, or a woman.” How God was about to flip the script on this prideful and religious spirit!
These five women were not the Bible’s Rachel, Sarah, or Leah. God could have included them. But instead, He chose a whore, a foreigner, an adulterer, a trickster who played the prostitute, and someone who seemingly was pregnant out of wedlock. These are the women God chose to display in the lineage of His Son.
THE HEROES.
Second, you will find heroes to the faith. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Boaz, Hezekiah, and Solomon.
THE REGULAR JOE’S.
Third, you will find everyday, ordinary people who have no great accolades or credentials. Heston, Nashon, Ram, Salmon, and even a simple carpenter named Joseph.
THE DOWNRIGHT EVIL.
Finally, reading through the genealogy of Matthew 1, you will find gravely evil men. Abijah, Manasseh, Ahaz, and Rehoboam.
APPLY the Word.
Jesus Christ. The son of David. The Son of Abraham. The Savior of all ... not the Savior to some. He came to save women as well as men, poor as well as rich. He is the Savior of the king and to the servant. He is Messiah to the sinful and the holy. He is Christ to the hero and the downcast. He is Lord to the sinner as well as the saint.
He takes the broken ... the Bathsheba’s, the Rahab’s, the David’s, and the Solomon’s ... and rebuilds them; giving Genesis ... a brand new beginning.
Your past does not define your future. In Him, all things become new. Our sin, our shame, and our mistakes can all turn out for good and in His hands can produce glory.
LIVE the Word.
There is now ... right now ... in this moment ... today .... NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
No more pain, Rahab.
No more shame, Bathsheba.
No more turning to the past, Ruth.
No more mourning and hiding, Tamar.
Behold, I am doing a brand new thing ... do you see it? - Is. 43:19
Your name is now written in the great genealogy of Jesus Christ. It’s a new day. A new beginning. A new Genesis. “To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” - John 1:12
