Imperfect People
Today, I have been reflecting on Christ's genealogy. Our Christian culture has painted Jesus as perfect, and yes, I agree. And yet, his genealogy was NOT. It was far from perfect.
“Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. 5. Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. 6. Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba, who had been Uriah's wife.
Matthew 1:3, 5, 6
There are only five women mentioned in the genealogy of Christ. And all four women come with controversy. Judah's son was wicked and was killed before having a son, but Judah promised Tamar (Judah's son's wife) that she could marry his other son to have an heir. And yet Judah's second son died. So Judah promised his much younger son to Tamar, but Judah changed his mind when the time came for her to marry him. Therefore, Tamar tricked Judah and dressed up like a prostitute and went where Judah would sleep with her.
Then Rahab, who was a prostitute, hid the Israelite spies when they came to check out Jericho. Ruth was a Moabite. Bathsheba was the woman David slept with out of wedlock and whom David had her husband murdered. And then Mary, a woman with a child before she was married.
Wow, five women with such controversy surrounding them. And yet they are all utilized in the lineage of Christ. And in Matthew 1, they are each mentioned by name. Only the men could have been mentioned like the rest of those in Jesus' genealogy, yet Mathew made sure to mention these women.
Why is this significant, you may ask? Well, how do you see Jesus? Matthew wanted us all to know that Jesus came from a group of imperfect people. God didn't use a family line filled with perfection, but a family line filled with sin throughout, and yet God still chose them. And in turn, He chooses us.
Despite our frailties, brokenness, and inadequacies, God still chose to dwell amongst us. Around 700 years before the birth of Christ, He told His people, “Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14
There are so many different ways Jesus could have come, but He chose to come through a broken people in the form of a child. Born in a manager to a young family with little finances.
Today, on this Christmas Day, where do you find yourself? Are you looking at your lack, or are you mesmerized by the Living God who sent His only Son, Jesus, Emmanuel? Let us be a people so in awe of this Living God that Nothing compares to who He is and what He has done.
Thank You, Yahweh, for Your perfect Son Emmanuel, whom You have sent amongst a broken people so we can dwell with You!
