December 5, 2008

• The Geneology of Christ

  The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:  Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.  Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.  Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,  and Jesse begot David the king. 
  
  David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah [Bathsheba].  Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.  Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah.  Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.  Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.  Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.  

  And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.  Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.  Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud.  Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. 

  So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.
  Matthew 1:1-17 (NKJV)

  I hope that this Christmas season we remember that we are celebrating God coming down to earth as a humble baby.  He came to seek and to save the lost.  I have quoted the passage above because I have been thinking a lot about the geneologies of Christ given to us in Scripture.  Also, I am doing a play, as a reader, on the five women mentioned in Christ’s family tree.  I am so moved by these women who are mentioned because despite their failures and faults God used them to demonstrate His marvelous power and grace.  He used them to be a part of a plan that would include salvation for the world through His son Jesus Christ.  Amazing that He would use disreputable people for His purposes.  I pray that each one of us will take the time to read the stories behind Tamar, Ruth, Rahab, Bathsheba, and Mary.  We need to marvel at God demonstrating His mercy to these women.  I hope that we all reflect and see the ways God wants to use us in His plan.  Marvel at the grace that is given to us; without it we would be utterly hopeless.

  Have a safe, warm, and peaceful Christmas!  Worship the Christ!

  • 12:08 pm
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