Stage 1: Getting To Know Jesus Stage 1: Getting To Know Jesus Stage 1: Getting To Know Jesus
Episode 3: Where Does Jesus Come From???
If you are new to the scripture, you may wonder why Matthew Chapter One starts with a list of names you can’t pronounce. You will probably be tempted to just skip over them and get on with the story of Jesus. Here is a suggestion: DON’T. This is Jesus’ family tree, so go to Google and start researching the names on it.
Why does Matthew start with Jesus’ family? The simple answer is that someone’s lineage is extremely important in the Jewish culture. Jewish individual identity is based on ancestry.
When you are trying to get to know someone, odds are “Where are you from?” is in the top five questions. So, this is why Matthew lays out his ancestry right at the start.
Think about today, genealogical subscription services is HUGE business. Ancestry.com has millions subscribers with an annual revenue in the billions of dollars. One BILLION and that is one company!
Jesus’ family is very interesting, to say the least. His lineage includes royalty, but he was born to a poor carpenter. His family consisted of great men but also very evil men. Jesus’ family is very interesting, to say the least. His lineage includes royalty, but he was born to a poor carpenter. His family consisted of great men but also very evil men. Jesus’ family is very interesting, to say the least. His lineage includes royalty, but he was born to a poor carpenter. His family consisted of great men but also very evil men.
Like most of us, Jesus’ family tree isn’t pretty. It is filled with both straight and crooked branches.
The God who wrote the beginnings (of humanity) with crooked lines also writes the sequence (of our lives) with crooked lines, and some of those lines are our own lives and witness. A God who did not hesitate to use the scheming as well as the noble, the impure as well as the pure, men to whom the world hearkened and women upon whom the world frowned – this God continues to work with the same (mixture). (Father Raymond Brown).
So why is Jesus’ family tree important? There is a little bit of everything in His family, and it was far from perfect. The good, the bad, the rich, the poor, other cultures, and people with tragic pasts are all found in this family. You may be asking yourself, “Do I have a part in this story? Can I be a part of Jesus’ story even if I have done this and am that?” The answer to those questions is unequivocally, YES!!!! You are a part of His family now, and He isn’t letting you go no matter what you do. His family tree proves that He loves you no matter your background, race, decisions, circumstances, or decisions.
Scripture References:Matthew 1: 1-17
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