Christmas Devotional: 19th December 2020
This passage is a rundown of Jesus’ heritage. The results of Jesus’ ancestory.com search if you like. Although it may seem tedious to work through, not to mention unpronounceable, it is worth reflecting upon as it reveals a lot of truths.
There are many figures that you may recognise, familiar from various different passages in the Bible. Like Abraham (v.1) who appears right at the beginning in Genesis, and King David (v.6) who appears so many times throughout the Old Testament that he is the second most mentioned man in the Bible. And there are many who are less well known too.
What makes these figures so important is not their familiarity, but their significance in promising Jesus. The book of Matthew marks the beginning of the New Testament and the beginning of Jesus’ appearance in the Bible.
What this passage demonstrates so clearly though, is that Jesus has been promised right from the beginning. From the garden of Eden, to Abraham and the promise of many descendants from his barren wife Sarah, to David and the promise of a King on this Earth. None of the people mentioned are particularly special, and definitely not perfect, but they make up a lineage that points right to the Son of God.
For forty-two generations (v.17) Jesus was promised. God’s people waited 700 years. Though God appeared silent, He worked through every individual to deliver His Son to Earth. In retrospect this lineage makes it so clear for us to see that Jesus was coming. It shows God as a diligent Father who delivers on his promises and has a perfect plan, far more thought out then we could ever imagine. This hope shows the significance of our identity in Christ.
I saw a Christmas advert for ancestory.com the other day. They help you to work out which countries your ancestors may be from. Their tag line for this year is ‘This Christmas bring your backstory to life.’ Most of us would root our identity in the people and places who make up our genetic backstory. That is a hugely important part of establishing our place and sense of security in the world.
Although so important, a greater place of safety and love is found in our identity as children of our Heavenly Father, who have Jesus as our brother. Being adopted as sons and daughters of God means that we have an ultimate safety, and our identity is based in the security of an eternal home.
I guess what this passage made me think about was the importance of being God’s daughters and sons. We too are made in the image of God. We too have a lineage and an importance. It has nothing to do with our own actions or decisions, but all to do with who our loving Father is. You are perfectly and wonderfully made, and God promised His Son, and then sent Him to die for us.
I so hope that you all feel and know the peace of God’s love today and I trust that the celebration of Christ’s birth reminds you of your identity and security as a precious child of God.