WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.419 For the month of December in the mornings, we're going to look at the opening chapters of the Gospel of Matthew. 00:00:07.900 --> 00:00:12.780 It's on page 965 in the Church Bible. 00:00:14.780 --> 00:00:21.460 And what we'll see today is a grace-filled family tree. 00:00:22.460 --> 00:00:26.219 Matthew chapter 1 at verse 1. 00:00:26.219 --> 00:00:33.859 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:38.359 Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac, the father of Jacob. 00:00:38.899 --> 00:00:41.359 Jacob, the father of Judah and his brothers. 00:00:41.939 --> 00:00:45.320 Judah, the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:49.539 Perez, the father of Hezron. Hezron, the father of Ram. 00:00:50.019 --> 00:00:54.120 Ram, the father of Amminadab. Amminadab, the father of Nashon. 00:00:54.119 --> 00:01:00.039 Nashon, the father of Salmon. Salmon, the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. 00:01:00.599 --> 00:01:03.619 Boaz, the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. 00:01:04.179 --> 00:01:08.299 Obed, the father of Jesse. And Jesse, the father of King David. 00:01:09.140 --> 00:01:13.359 David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife. 00:01:13.759 --> 00:01:17.259 Solomon, the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam, the father of Abijah. 00:01:17.719 --> 00:01:21.379 Abijah, the father of Asa. Asa, the father of Jehoshaphat. 00:01:21.379 --> 00:01:25.939 Jehoshaphat, the father of Jehoram. Jehoram, the father of Uzziah. 00:01:26.500 --> 00:01:30.379 Uzziah, the father of Jotham. Jotham, the father of Ahaz. 00:01:30.939 --> 00:01:35.199 Ahaz, the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah, the father of Manasseh. 00:01:35.659 --> 00:01:39.299 Manasseh, the father of Ammon. Ammon, the father of Josiah. 00:01:39.799 --> 00:01:44.439 And Josiah, the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. 00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:49.879 After the exile to Babylon, Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel. 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:52.219 Shealtiel, the father of Zerubbabel. 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:56.679 Zerubbabel, the father of Abiud. Abiud, the father of Eliakim. 00:01:57.179 --> 00:02:00.859 Eliakim, the father of Azor. Azor, the father of Zadok. 00:02:01.259 --> 00:02:04.799 Zadok, the father of Achim. Achim, the father of Eliud. 00:02:05.180 --> 00:02:08.879 Eliud, the father of Eleazar. Eleazar, the father of Mathan. 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:18.340 Mathan, the father of Jacob. And Jacob, the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:31.960 Thus, there were fourteen generations in all, from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ. 00:02:33.099 --> 00:02:33.579 Amen. 00:02:33.580 --> 00:02:44.080 One of the things that we're going to think about is, why does Matthew choose to start his story of the coming of Jesus with a family tree? 00:02:45.340 --> 00:02:54.560 Many moons ago, I studied library and information science in Aberdeen, and I had a professor there who, as his party piece, 00:02:54.560 --> 00:03:08.560 I remember one afternoon, he cleared the desk, and he rolled out a piece of paper, a huge piece of paper, on which he proceeded to map out, from memory, his family tree dating back four hundred years. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:15.340 So he would tell us about who was married where, and it sounded like he'd been there. He knew that kind of level of detail. 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:19.640 He could tell us who were the great and the good, who were the sort of notable people. 00:03:19.639 --> 00:03:28.279 And he also told us, he was one of those guys where even when his family had sort of dubious characters, skeletons in the closet, they were really interesting. 00:03:28.399 --> 00:03:33.659 They were pretty cool. You know, it's like, my great-great-grandpa was a pirate. It was that kind of a family tree. 00:03:34.299 --> 00:03:41.479 But what he was doing, as well as teaching us how to research, he was, in a sense, saying, this is who I am. 00:03:41.479 --> 00:03:47.859 This is where I fit within this family, within this people. 00:03:49.739 --> 00:03:53.839 Why does Matthew begin with Jesus' family tree? 00:03:55.079 --> 00:04:04.039 Because Matthew is saying to us, this is where Jesus fits in the story of God's dealing with the world and with his people. 00:04:04.439 --> 00:04:11.179 This is who Jesus is. This isn't just a family tree. This is also Jesus' CV. 00:04:11.180 --> 00:04:18.420 Here is why he is qualified to be the Christ, to be the chosen King and Saviour. 00:04:19.060 --> 00:04:29.620 So Matthew gives us, right at the beginning, this family tree to help people then and now to understand Jesus as a source of hope. 00:04:29.860 --> 00:04:37.800 To see how the longings of Israel, indeed the longings of the world, are fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:50.379 And so what we're going to see is that his family tree, the one that Matthew gives us here, makes powerful statements about Jesus' identity and about Jesus' place. 00:04:51.340 --> 00:04:56.699 At first, and at a very basic level, it will remind us Jesus is a historical figure. 00:04:57.580 --> 00:05:00.540 He lived in a certain place and at a certain time. 00:05:00.540 --> 00:05:05.680 The story doesn't begin once upon a time, like our fairy tales or like our myths. 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:11.040 This story connects us with history and with the story of the nation of Israel. 00:05:12.520 --> 00:05:18.240 We are also going to see that Jesus comes to fulfill God's promises. 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:24.600 We see that attention is drawn to Abraham and to David. 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:35.379 And we're going to see why that's significant when we think about what it means that Jesus is God's Christ, God's anointed King. 00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:43.379 And we're also going to see that Jesus' family history is marked by God's grace. 00:05:43.379 --> 00:05:54.439 Because like every family tree, as we begin to trace it, I don't know if you know yours, but at some point we will find skeletons in the closet. 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:58.000 We will find dysfunction and breakdown. 00:05:58.600 --> 00:06:02.680 But in Jesus' family tree, that dysfunction is not hidden. 00:06:03.060 --> 00:06:09.339 Rather, it's highlighted in order to show God's love and mercy to the world. 00:06:09.339 --> 00:06:15.459 So as we were reading that, you may have been thinking, this is really not my thing. 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:17.039 I'm not a family tree person. 00:06:17.339 --> 00:06:28.779 I hope that whether you're that person or not, we'll be able to see that Jesus' family tree is actually a cause for worship for all of us this morning. 00:06:29.739 --> 00:06:37.419 So the first thing I want us to focus on is the fathers of Jesus and the promises of God. 00:06:37.420 --> 00:06:43.500 I want us to focus on the two characters that are focused on in the family tree. 00:06:43.819 --> 00:06:49.840 Verse 1, a record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:56.120 And then that first chart of the 14 generations begins with Abraham there in verse 2. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:07:00.639 Then in verse 6, the next 14 begin with David. 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:06.400 So this family tree is on the one hand connecting to what God has already been doing. 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:16.179 It reminds us as readers of God calling Abraham, of God giving him a family, that family who would become the nation of Israel. 00:07:16.539 --> 00:07:23.359 And part of that was God then giving David and the kings to rule for him. 00:07:24.179 --> 00:07:30.719 And that history is traced to the exile, the darkest days in the nation's history, 00:07:30.719 --> 00:07:35.259 and then back to the coming of Jesus the Christ. 00:07:35.259 --> 00:07:41.199 But let's ask ourselves the question, why highlight Abraham? 00:07:43.159 --> 00:07:54.240 In Genesis 12, we first meet Abraham in Genesis 11, but in Genesis 12 we discover that God calls Abraham out of false worship 00:07:54.240 --> 00:08:00.759 in order to become one of God's people, and he makes great promises to Abraham. 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:02.579 He makes a covenant. 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:04.500 He commits himself to Abraham and he says, 00:08:04.839 --> 00:08:08.759 I will give you a family, I will make your name great, 00:08:09.319 --> 00:08:13.399 and I will give you the land known as the promised land. 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:15.699 And he said to Abraham, 00:08:15.699 --> 00:08:38.620 So one of the reasons Matthew highlights Abraham is so that we are clued into the fact that Jesus comes to be that promised seed. 00:08:38.620 --> 00:08:47.379 He is the one through whom all the nations of the world, all peoples, can know God's blessing and God's goodness. 00:08:47.500 --> 00:08:48.379 But the question is how? 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:53.019 How does that goodness come to us through Jesus? 00:08:53.740 --> 00:08:56.460 Well, let's continue thinking about the story of Abraham. 00:08:57.460 --> 00:09:00.679 In Genesis 15, you can read about it later, 00:09:00.679 --> 00:09:06.359 There's this moment where Abraham is getting older and he still doesn't have any family, 00:09:06.839 --> 00:09:07.779 and he's saying to God, 00:09:07.859 --> 00:09:09.859 You promised me family and I don't have any, 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:15.739 and God recommits himself to giving him a great family, making him a great nation. 00:09:16.099 --> 00:09:21.979 And to prove his commitment, he enters into this covenant ceremony. 00:09:21.980 --> 00:09:31.560 And in this ceremony, Abraham is told to take some animals and to slaughter them, 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:34.580 to cut them in half and to make a path. 00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:40.879 So there's an animal, half an animal all the way up one side and half on the other side, making that path. 00:09:41.920 --> 00:09:46.920 Because in Abraham's day, when two kings wanted to make a binding agreement, 00:09:47.019 --> 00:09:48.399 this is something that they might do. 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:51.659 They would walk through it, having made their agreement, 00:09:51.659 --> 00:09:54.759 they would walk through these cut-up animals as if to say, 00:09:55.199 --> 00:09:59.939 If I break my word to you, let what happened to the animals happen to me. 00:10:00.779 --> 00:10:04.699 If I break this covenant, may death come. 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:12.839 Back to Genesis 15, Abraham in a vision sees God as a flaming torch 00:10:12.839 --> 00:10:19.519 and God alone walking through the pieces of the cut-up animal. 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:21.120 Here is God saying, 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:26.860 I am absolutely committed to my covenant promise to bless the world. 00:10:27.659 --> 00:10:30.259 And if this covenant is broken, 00:10:31.259 --> 00:10:34.439 may what happened to those animals happen to me. 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:38.419 Now what does this have to do with our story? 00:10:38.539 --> 00:10:42.000 What does this have to do with the story of Jesus? 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:49.419 Well, the Bible tells us that God made us in His image, in His likeness, 00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:51.720 so that we might worship Him, 00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:56.320 so that we might live in covenant relationship with Him, 00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:59.340 where we would obey Him joyfully, 00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:01.740 where we would love Him truly. 00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:11.500 But for us as people, we have all broken covenant with God 00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:14.519 by our lack of love, 00:11:15.299 --> 00:11:17.440 by our false worship, 00:11:17.980 --> 00:11:19.419 by our sin, 00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:22.120 and by our rebellion. 00:11:22.820 --> 00:11:24.659 And when we think in covenant terms, 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:26.139 and when we think of Genesis 15, 00:11:26.139 --> 00:11:29.799 therefore, because we are covenant lawbreakers, 00:11:30.059 --> 00:11:34.259 we should face the penalty for breaking that law. 00:11:34.659 --> 00:11:37.600 We deserve God's judgment. 00:11:37.819 --> 00:11:39.960 We deserve to face death. 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:48.460 But God in His goodness sends Jesus as an act of love and mercy. 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:50.799 What does Jesus do for us? 00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:55.120 He comes as the perfect Son of God, 00:11:55.219 --> 00:11:58.779 who lives in perfect obedience to God's law, 00:11:59.019 --> 00:12:01.219 but then on the cross, 00:12:01.779 --> 00:12:07.219 He dies for covenant lawbreaking. 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:11.319 He takes our sin on His shoulders, 00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:14.559 and He faces that penalty. 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:17.459 His body is torn. 00:12:17.460 --> 00:12:20.519 That He takes the penalty 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:22.780 so that we might once again 00:12:22.780 --> 00:12:25.060 live at peace with God. 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:28.259 We might be forgiven by God 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:30.740 and enjoy life with Him. 00:12:30.920 --> 00:12:32.580 Jesus coming, 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:34.940 and coming to die on the cross, 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:37.660 is our way back to God. 00:12:37.940 --> 00:12:40.680 That's God's blessing for the world. 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:46.259 That's how Jesus fulfills that promise to Abraham. 00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:49.740 That for anybody who understands, 00:12:49.939 --> 00:12:51.819 I'm a sinner before God, 00:12:52.460 --> 00:12:56.299 and I cannot make myself good enough for a holy God, 00:12:56.620 --> 00:12:58.580 we see Jesus as good news. 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:02.860 Because we are invited to trust in Jesus 00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:04.899 as our Son of God, 00:13:05.100 --> 00:13:06.399 as our Savior, 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:10.639 the one who in love took our sin 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:13.419 to give us eternal life. 00:13:13.419 --> 00:13:14.979 so that through Him, 00:13:15.019 --> 00:13:17.299 we can know true love and peace and joy 00:13:17.299 --> 00:13:19.839 that comes from God. 00:13:22.339 --> 00:13:24.079 So the fathers of Jesus, 00:13:24.459 --> 00:13:27.419 Abraham here reminds us of the promises of God. 00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:29.039 But he's not the only one who's highlighted. 00:13:29.219 --> 00:13:31.839 We're also told about David. 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:34.919 David stands at the head of the second 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:37.699 of the 14 generations. 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:40.919 David was the father of Solomon, 00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:42.240 we're told in verse 6. 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:46.360 So why highlight David? 00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:48.919 Well, David was the great king. 00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:51.679 He was God's chosen king, 00:13:52.139 --> 00:13:55.879 described in the Bible as a man after God's own heart. 00:13:56.679 --> 00:14:00.759 And he too received a covenant promise from God. 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:03.399 So in 2 Samuel 7, 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:06.860 there's a moment where David 00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:09.299 wants to build a temple for God, 00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:09.960 and God says, 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:12.439 no one of your son, Solomon, 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:13.439 he'll build the temple. 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:14.480 But God says, 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:16.399 I'll make a name for you, David. 00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:19.899 And he promises that one of David's family 00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:23.360 would rule and reign as king, 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:24.539 not for a while, 00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:26.360 but forever. 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:28.899 Not just of some people, 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:30.539 but over all people. 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:34.879 David is promised the universal eternal king 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:36.740 would come from his family. 00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:40.279 Now, when we get to our family tree here, 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:42.659 and as we think about the history of Israel, 00:14:43.580 --> 00:14:46.659 history suggested this promise was under threat. 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:49.800 Because bear in mind that the exile had happened, 00:14:50.300 --> 00:14:52.800 so there were no longer kings of Israel 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:55.979 sitting on the throne. 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:59.799 Owing to their disobedience, 00:15:00.219 --> 00:15:02.779 owing to the fact that they kept walking away from God 00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:04.219 and choosing to worship idols, 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:06.979 they had been sent out of the promised land, 00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:09.199 they had been defeated and taken prisoner, 00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:10.679 and even now, 00:15:10.939 --> 00:15:13.219 they are ruled by Rome. 00:15:13.659 --> 00:15:15.399 So the line of kings had ended, 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:17.039 and so there's this source of tension, 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:19.559 will it ever come back? 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:23.939 Will there ever be a king in the line of David on the throne? 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:26.139 And here is Matthew's message. 00:15:27.119 --> 00:15:30.019 This eternal king has come, 00:15:30.459 --> 00:15:32.139 because Jesus has come. 00:15:33.079 --> 00:15:35.339 And he has come to rule perfectly for God. 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:37.619 You can read the history of the kings of Israel, 00:15:37.699 --> 00:15:39.739 and you discover that in many ways, 00:15:40.219 --> 00:15:45.000 they all failed to perfectly reflect God's rule, 00:15:45.839 --> 00:15:46.799 but Jesus won't. 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:50.559 And so he is the answer to the darkness and the fear. 00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:53.939 He is the answer to hope beyond despair, 00:15:54.099 --> 00:15:57.219 and that ties in with the title that Jesus is given. 00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:59.299 Jesus is the Christ. 00:15:59.439 --> 00:16:01.679 He is God's anointed one, 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:05.759 just as the kings of Israel were anointed with oil 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:08.479 to show that they were chosen by God 00:16:08.479 --> 00:16:10.099 and were given authority by God. 00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:15.019 This is true absolutely of Jesus. 00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:20.240 He is God's chosen king for us all. 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:23.399 Therefore, there is a summons to us. 00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:27.600 God has sent Jesus his king. 00:16:27.939 --> 00:16:29.980 And so we need to ask ourselves, 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:36.279 am I submitting to his good and loving rule? 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:41.500 And for us as a church, 00:16:41.839 --> 00:16:44.000 there's also an opportunity, 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:45.819 there is a mission for us. 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:50.779 How can I be part of establishing 00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:55.339 the kingdom rule of Jesus in my life 00:16:55.339 --> 00:16:57.399 and where I am? 00:16:57.399 --> 00:17:01.559 How can I be built up in my faith 00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:05.000 so that my life is founded on Jesus 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:07.660 and his word and his salvation? 00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:11.420 How can I share the good news of Jesus 00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:12.960 with the people around me 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:14.400 and my friends and my family? 00:17:15.139 --> 00:17:18.500 How can I be helping to build other Christians up 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:20.980 in their faith so that they will continue 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:23.359 walking with Jesus, the king, 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:27.019 and submitting to his rule? 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:31.500 So the fathers of Jesus that are highlighted here 00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:34.039 speak to us of the promises of God. 00:17:35.919 --> 00:17:38.839 Let's think now about the mothers of Jesus 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:42.799 that are mentioned and the grace of God 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:45.619 that we find in this section. 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:46.959 Before we do that, 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:51.319 let's talk about airbrushing for a couple of minutes. 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:55.240 Why is it that we, as people, 00:17:55.700 --> 00:17:59.759 airbrush when we are about to post a photo, 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:01.899 perhaps to social media, 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:04.539 quite often people will like to do 00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.939 a little bit of photoshopping, 00:18:06.179 --> 00:18:07.159 a little bit of editing, 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:09.480 before that gets made public. 00:18:10.179 --> 00:18:11.519 You will find that too, 00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:14.960 when people are writing history or biographies, 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:17.480 they will sometimes airbrush history. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:21.079 Now let's not focus on those failings 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:23.419 of a particular leader or a particular nation. 00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:26.899 Let's concentrate on the great and the good moments. 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:30.099 Why do we, as individuals, 00:18:30.379 --> 00:18:32.960 pretend that we have it all together, 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:34.319 that we have life figured out? 00:18:34.379 --> 00:18:37.099 Why do we feel that urge to pretend 00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:39.339 that our family is the perfect family sometimes? 00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:42.500 We want to airbrush our flaws. 00:18:43.659 --> 00:18:45.799 Now we maybe have different reasons for doing that. 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:48.000 Sometimes it's because we're proud. 00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:51.159 Sometimes it's because we had that fear 00:18:51.159 --> 00:18:53.079 or anxiety of being found out. 00:18:54.419 --> 00:18:56.419 Sometimes it's because our self-image 00:18:56.419 --> 00:18:58.619 and our feelings of self-worth 00:18:58.619 --> 00:19:00.720 are not based on trusting in Jesus, 00:19:01.419 --> 00:19:03.059 but this perception 00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:05.980 that we are the ones that have got life all figured out. 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:10.740 Now, compare this with Jesus' family tree. 00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:15.059 Compare this with what Matthew presents for us here. 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:18.519 Matthew goes out of his way 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:21.140 to reference time and again 00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:24.200 elements of dysfunction. 00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:27.539 He highlights in this family tree 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:29.259 those who are both sinners 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:32.660 and those who have been sinned against. 00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:36.279 Matthew chooses to highlight 00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:38.200 surprising figures 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:40.900 to highlight God's grace. 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:43.820 To show that being part of Jesus' family 00:19:43.820 --> 00:19:45.240 isn't just for the great and the good. 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:47.820 It's not for people who've got their lives all sorted out. 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:49.580 It's for those whose lives are broken. 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:50.660 Those who are needy. 00:19:51.060 --> 00:19:51.779 He's for us. 00:19:53.600 --> 00:19:54.519 How does he do that? 00:19:54.620 --> 00:19:55.740 It's largely done 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:57.700 actually through including women. 00:19:57.820 --> 00:19:58.519 Did you notice? 00:19:59.080 --> 00:20:00.820 Father, father, father, father, father. 00:20:01.060 --> 00:20:01.960 But then occasionally 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:03.600 we hear about a mother. 00:20:05.840 --> 00:20:07.059 That was very unusual 00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:08.579 in Jesus' day. 00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:10.620 Family trees were drawn 00:20:10.620 --> 00:20:13.400 based on the male line. 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:16.779 But it's not just every woman 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.279 that's included. 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:18.920 Very particular women 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:21.460 are included in this family tree. 00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.840 But before we get to the details 00:20:23.840 --> 00:20:26.200 here is Matthew reminding us 00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:27.220 that Jesus came 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:29.200 for those who perhaps society 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.500 undervalues. 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:33.839 those who might be forgotten. 00:20:35.380 --> 00:20:37.359 Those who are undervalued. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.519 Jesus came for. 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:43.359 God's love is not restricted. 00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:44.740 God's love is open. 00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:47.140 God's love is open to anyone 00:20:47.140 --> 00:20:48.460 who will receive it. 00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.859 But let's look at how 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:53.339 Matthew highlights grace for us 00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:55.460 through the women 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:57.559 that he chooses to include. 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:59.919 Our first is in verse 3. 00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:05.119 We're going to give a brief biography, 00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:06.399 very brief biography 00:21:06.399 --> 00:21:06.980 of these women. 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:07.440 Judah, 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.259 the father of Perez 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.240 and Zerah, 00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:13.379 whose mother was Tamar. 00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:15.359 What's her story? 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.359 Well, you can find it 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:19.500 in Genesis chapter 38. 00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:22.319 Tamar was married 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.359 to one man 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:24.359 who died. 00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:24.920 His brother 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:26.660 was supposed to marry her 00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:27.759 and continue the family. 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:29.619 But he is disobedient. 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.039 Judah, 00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:31.940 her father-in-law, 00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:33.619 promises to care for her 00:21:33.619 --> 00:21:34.500 and to provide for her 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:35.960 but lets her down. 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.460 She's badly treated 00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:38.900 with no prospect of family. 00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:40.340 So what Tamar does 00:21:40.340 --> 00:21:42.180 is she dresses up 00:21:42.180 --> 00:21:43.140 as a prostitute 00:21:43.140 --> 00:21:44.340 and she tricks 00:21:44.340 --> 00:21:45.420 her father-in-law 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:47.160 to sleep with her 00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:49.500 to begin a family. 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:52.080 So she has these twins. 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.840 That's her story. 00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:56.820 The second woman 00:21:56.820 --> 00:21:57.480 that's mentioned 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:59.340 is in verse 5. 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.440 Salmon, 00:22:01.820 --> 00:22:03.300 the father of Boaz, 00:22:03.800 --> 00:22:04.540 whose mother 00:22:04.540 --> 00:22:06.700 was Rahab. 00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:07.880 Now when we turn 00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:09.220 to the book of Joshua 00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:11.200 and Joshua chapter 2, 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.279 we find that Rahab 00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:14.059 is an actual prostitute 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:16.059 living in Jericho, 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:18.779 one of the enemy cities 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:20.680 that Israel will defeat. 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.380 But Rahab 00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:23.740 fears God, 00:22:24.120 --> 00:22:24.740 honours God, 00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:25.640 recognises 00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:27.319 that God has given Israel 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.120 the promised land 00:22:28.120 --> 00:22:28.920 and so she 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:30.080 joins 00:22:30.080 --> 00:22:31.600 the people of God. 00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:34.039 Our third woman 00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:34.400 mentioned 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.220 is also 00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:36.680 in verse 5. 00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:38.059 Boaz, 00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:39.480 the father of Obed, 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:40.480 whose mother 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:41.779 was Ruth. 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.460 Ruth gets 00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:44.160 a book 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:44.779 in the Bible. 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:45.680 In the middle 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:46.400 of the darkness 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:47.440 of the time 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:48.059 of the judges, 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:49.559 Ruth stands out 00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.440 as light. 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:51.980 Here is another foreigner. 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:53.220 She's from Moab, 00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:55.259 a hated enemy 00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:55.960 of Israel. 00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.740 But she turns 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.279 to God. 00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:59.240 She sees her 00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:00.840 mother-in-law's 00:23:00.840 --> 00:23:01.299 faith, 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.640 her faith 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:03.799 in God. 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.919 She trusts 00:23:04.919 --> 00:23:06.619 in the God 00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:07.440 of the Bible. 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:08.539 She moves 00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:10.119 back to Israel 00:23:10.119 --> 00:23:10.839 and she becomes 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.359 a model 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:12.319 in her community 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:13.139 of faith 00:23:13.139 --> 00:23:14.779 and loyalty 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.759 and she becomes 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.680 part of 00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:18.019 King David's 00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:19.379 family line. 00:23:20.379 --> 00:23:21.220 Then we have 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:22.200 a fourth woman 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:23.480 mentioned 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:24.960 or not mentioned 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:26.579 in verse 6. 00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:28.299 Jesse, 00:23:28.419 --> 00:23:29.440 the father of King David. 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:30.620 David was the 00:23:30.620 --> 00:23:31.559 father of Solomon 00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:32.700 whose mother 00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:34.340 had been Uriah's 00:23:34.340 --> 00:23:34.620 wife. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:37.539 So we know 00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:38.360 from the story 00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:38.759 of the Bible 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.840 that this is Bathsheba. 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.559 You can find 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:41.759 this story 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.820 in 2 Samuel 00:23:42.820 --> 00:23:44.200 chapter 12. 00:23:44.320 --> 00:23:44.779 Now you might 00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.160 be asking 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:46.100 why is her name 00:23:46.100 --> 00:23:47.019 not mentioned? 00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:47.440 Is that 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:48.380 disrespect 00:23:48.380 --> 00:23:49.580 on Bathsheba? 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:51.660 No, I think 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.320 the intention 00:23:52.320 --> 00:23:52.940 is to show 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:54.680 that King David 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:56.100 had really 00:23:56.100 --> 00:23:56.860 messed up. 00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:57.480 The focus 00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.360 is on the fact 00:23:58.360 --> 00:23:59.620 that he has 00:23:59.620 --> 00:24:00.980 committed adultery. 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:01.700 He's taken 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.740 another man's 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:02.980 wife. 00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:03.579 He's slept 00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:03.860 with her. 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:04.680 When she becomes 00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:05.319 pregnant 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.420 he arranges 00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:07.839 to have Uriah, 00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.579 one of his 00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:10.259 brave soldiers, 00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:11.579 killed. 00:24:13.420 --> 00:24:14.339 But Bathsheba 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.559 has a place 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.579 in the family 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.160 of Jesus. 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:18.299 And of course 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:19.120 the fifth woman 00:24:19.120 --> 00:24:21.180 is in verse 16 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:22.160 and that's 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:22.579 Mary. 00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:23.420 Jacob, 00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.559 the father of Joseph, 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:25.700 the husband 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.299 of Mary 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.339 of whom was 00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:28.139 born Jesus 00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:29.639 who is called 00:24:29.639 --> 00:24:30.559 Christ. 00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:31.419 Mary, 00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:32.119 the teenage 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:32.519 virgin 00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.339 who is chosen 00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:34.099 by God 00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:35.339 to be the 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:36.180 mother of Jesus 00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:37.159 the Christ 00:24:37.159 --> 00:24:38.139 as a gift 00:24:38.139 --> 00:24:38.819 of grace. 00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:39.639 And we'll think 00:24:39.639 --> 00:24:40.299 about her story 00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:40.759 next week. 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.500 But what binds 00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.359 all those 00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:44.419 unusual surprising 00:24:44.419 --> 00:24:45.259 stories together 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.279 it's God's 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.419 grace. 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:50.000 As Tim Keller 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:50.460 puts it, 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.319 there's a place 00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:52.519 in the family 00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:53.259 of God 00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:54.299 according to 00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:55.399 this family tree 00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:55.920 and according 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:56.480 to the Bible 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:57.500 for those 00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.320 who are outsiders 00:24:58.320 --> 00:24:59.160 because of their 00:24:59.160 --> 00:24:59.640 gender. 00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:01.360 For those 00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:02.280 who are outsiders 00:25:02.280 --> 00:25:03.480 because of the 00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.380 society or the 00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:05.040 nation that they 00:25:05.040 --> 00:25:05.680 come from. 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:07.220 Because of their 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.680 moral failure 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:10.300 and compromise. 00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:12.740 There is grace 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:14.240 available 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:15.700 in Jesus. 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:15.920 Jesus. 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:18.799 So you might be 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:19.319 here today 00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:19.660 and you're 00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:19.960 thinking, 00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:20.220 well, 00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:21.080 I'm not 00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:21.700 from a 00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:22.000 Christian 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.640 country. 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:23.680 I'm not 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:24.279 from a 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:24.680 Christian 00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:25.420 family. 00:25:26.100 --> 00:25:26.819 Could God 00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:27.660 love me? 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:28.980 And here 00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:29.799 is Matthew 00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:31.580 led by the 00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:32.279 Spirit of God 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:33.559 to point us 00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:34.340 to stories 00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:34.779 that say, 00:25:35.080 --> 00:25:35.340 yes, 00:25:35.400 --> 00:25:35.779 of course, 00:25:35.860 --> 00:25:36.240 here is 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.140 Rahab. 00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:38.580 She's not 00:25:38.580 --> 00:25:38.960 from the 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.580 people of God. 00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:40.259 Here's Ruth. 00:25:40.620 --> 00:25:41.160 She's from 00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:41.539 a foreign 00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.620 nation and 00:25:42.620 --> 00:25:43.620 she knows 00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:44.659 they know 00:25:44.659 --> 00:25:46.199 God's grace. 00:25:47.939 --> 00:25:48.639 Maybe we're 00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:49.319 sitting here 00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:50.500 full of guilt. 00:25:50.739 --> 00:25:50.899 I've done 00:25:50.899 --> 00:25:51.919 terrible things 00:25:51.919 --> 00:25:52.799 in my past. 00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:53.959 Could God 00:25:53.959 --> 00:25:55.439 accept me 00:25:55.439 --> 00:25:56.419 with the mess 00:25:56.419 --> 00:25:57.199 that my life 00:25:57.199 --> 00:25:57.759 has been? 00:25:58.959 --> 00:25:59.539 Think about 00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:00.139 the stories 00:26:00.139 --> 00:26:00.539 that we've 00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:01.259 just reflected 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:01.500 on. 00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:02.259 Here is 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:03.359 Tamar 00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:04.779 dressed up 00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:05.539 as a prostitute 00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:05.979 to commit 00:26:05.979 --> 00:26:06.719 incest with 00:26:06.719 --> 00:26:07.579 her father-in-law. 00:26:07.919 --> 00:26:08.439 Here is the 00:26:08.439 --> 00:26:09.279 story of David 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:10.019 and Bathsheba 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.759 and adultery 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.279 and murder 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:11.959 and there is 00:26:11.959 --> 00:26:12.579 grace. 00:26:13.619 --> 00:26:14.519 For them 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:18.500 I've been 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.079 sinned 00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:19.719 against. 00:26:20.879 --> 00:26:21.479 Does 00:26:21.479 --> 00:26:21.919 Jesus 00:26:21.919 --> 00:26:23.039 provide hope 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:24.000 that my 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.639 identity 00:26:24.639 --> 00:26:25.059 can be 00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:25.619 rooted in 00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:26.259 something 00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:27.239 other than 00:26:27.239 --> 00:26:27.959 the way 00:26:27.959 --> 00:26:28.500 people have 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.259 treated me? 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.559 Again, 00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:31.259 Tamar, 00:26:31.419 --> 00:26:32.000 Bathsheba 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.939 say yes 00:26:32.939 --> 00:26:33.559 to us. 00:26:34.219 --> 00:26:34.819 The grace 00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.399 of God 00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:36.339 is greater 00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:37.619 than 00:26:37.619 --> 00:26:39.000 our sin 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:40.039 and greater 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:40.759 than the sins 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.339 committed 00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:42.779 against 00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:43.539 us. 00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:46.180 The family 00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:46.839 of Jesus 00:26:46.839 --> 00:26:48.519 today, 00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:49.500 as it was 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:49.859 then, 00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:50.839 is not 00:26:50.839 --> 00:26:51.379 made up 00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:52.660 of the 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.160 great and 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:53.579 the good. 00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:56.619 The family 00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:57.220 of God 00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:57.980 is made 00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.319 up of 00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:58.759 those who 00:26:58.759 --> 00:26:59.119 have 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:00.079 skeletons 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:00.519 in our 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:00.759 own 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:01.319 closets. 00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:03.759 It's made 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.099 up of 00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:04.639 people like 00:27:04.639 --> 00:27:05.019 us who 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:05.579 are messed 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:05.879 up, 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.240 who are 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:07.000 broken, 00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:07.599 who get 00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:08.559 things wrong. 00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:12.659 But there's 00:27:12.659 --> 00:27:13.119 still hope 00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:13.720 for us 00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:16.419 because of 00:27:16.419 --> 00:27:16.720 God's 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.179 grace. 00:27:18.899 --> 00:27:19.220 Jesus' 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:19.899 family 00:27:19.899 --> 00:27:21.819 is filled 00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:21.980 with 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.460 tremendous 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:22.980 love and 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:23.519 hope because 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.119 it reminds 00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:24.419 us that 00:27:24.419 --> 00:27:24.819 we're not 00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:25.379 the centre 00:27:25.379 --> 00:27:25.700 of the 00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:26.079 story. 00:27:26.639 --> 00:27:27.440 Jesus is. 00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:28.220 All of 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:28.819 this history 00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:29.379 is moving 00:27:29.379 --> 00:27:30.139 towards the 00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:30.659 coming of 00:27:30.659 --> 00:27:31.119 the Christ, 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:31.440 the one 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:31.879 who brings 00:27:31.879 --> 00:27:32.460 forgiveness 00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:33.200 and new 00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:34.619 life and 00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:36.339 promise from 00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:36.799 God. 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:38.059 So this 00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:38.759 family tree 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.279 gives us 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:39.940 really good 00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:41.480 news if 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:41.899 we see 00:27:41.899 --> 00:27:42.559 our spiritual 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:44.379 need, if 00:27:44.379 --> 00:27:44.819 we see 00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:46.319 Jesus coming 00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:46.960 to fulfil 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:47.440 God's 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:48.879 loving rescue 00:27:48.879 --> 00:27:50.720 plan, if 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.339 we see how 00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:52.159 faith in 00:27:52.159 --> 00:27:52.659 him brings 00:27:52.659 --> 00:27:53.500 us into 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.919 this family 00:27:54.919 --> 00:27:56.539 tree of 00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.399 God. 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.599 So as we 00:28:00.599 --> 00:28:01.559 enter into 00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:02.500 Advent season, 00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:03.460 here is an 00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.740 invitation to 00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:06.339 slow down 00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:08.439 to stop 00:28:08.439 --> 00:28:08.779 and to 00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:09.220 reflect. 00:28:11.879 --> 00:28:12.720 Because if 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.139 this is 00:28:13.139 --> 00:28:15.339 true, then 00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:15.740 it's something 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.240 that's too 00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:17.179 important to 00:28:17.179 --> 00:28:18.919 ignore and 00:28:18.919 --> 00:28:19.379 it's something 00:28:19.379 --> 00:28:20.039 that's too 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:21.240 important to 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:22.339 just rush 00:28:22.339 --> 00:28:23.799 past in 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.059 the middle 00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:24.500 of all the 00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:25.220 other stuff 00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:25.539 that we 00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:26.659 do at 00:28:26.659 --> 00:28:27.099 Christmas. 00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:28.319 Don't let 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:29.240 that stuff 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:30.559 cause us 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.619 to miss 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:33.859 Jesus the 00:28:33.859 --> 00:28:35.539 Christ and 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.019 to miss 00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:36.539 the fact 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:37.639 that here 00:28:37.639 --> 00:28:38.139 is a 00:28:38.139 --> 00:28:39.279 family tree 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:40.359 that is 00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:41.359 dominated 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:43.799 by grace. 00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:45.539 I guess 00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:45.960 in every 00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:47.200 family tree 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:47.680 there are 00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:49.240 qualities that 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:50.139 pass down 00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:50.619 through the 00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:51.279 generations, 00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:53.180 whether that's 00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:53.819 in terms of 00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:54.960 physical appearance, 00:28:55.659 --> 00:28:56.279 whether it's in 00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:56.980 terms of our 00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:57.859 temperament and 00:28:57.859 --> 00:28:58.539 personality, 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.139 whether it's the 00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:00.639 things that we 00:29:00.639 --> 00:29:01.639 happen to be 00:29:01.639 --> 00:29:02.539 good at. 00:29:02.539 --> 00:29:04.700 what is it 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.319 that passes 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:06.559 down the 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.639 family line 00:29:07.639 --> 00:29:09.159 of Jesus? 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:11.059 In Jesus' 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:12.359 family tree, 00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:14.980 grace is 00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:15.819 the cord 00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:17.119 that runs 00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:18.220 all the way 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:18.619 through. 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:19.619 It goes right 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:20.259 down to our 00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:21.339 DNA, in fact, 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:22.740 as the people 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.339 of God. 00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:25.279 And so that 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:25.899 has implications 00:29:25.899 --> 00:29:27.299 for us as a 00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:27.839 church as we 00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:28.619 live together. 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.680 We should be 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.100 the most 00:29:30.100 --> 00:29:32.120 graceful and 00:29:32.120 --> 00:29:32.539 the most 00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:33.860 gracious place 00:29:33.860 --> 00:29:34.500 in the world. 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.680 We should be 00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:38.200 an attractive 00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:39.560 community of 00:29:39.560 --> 00:29:40.360 goodness, 00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:41.900 where the way 00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:42.680 that we live 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:44.240 together makes 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:45.240 people stop and 00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.140 think, what is it 00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:46.880 about them that's 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.700 so different 00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:49.140 in a good way? 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.900 It gives us 00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:54.100 a mission 00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:55.860 to share this 00:29:55.860 --> 00:29:57.620 spirit of Christmas, 00:29:57.619 --> 00:29:59.259 giving of 00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:01.019 ourselves to 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:02.000 extend kindness, 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:03.759 to offer 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:05.339 friendship to 00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:05.859 those who are 00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:07.599 lonely, to 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:07.919 offer 00:30:07.919 --> 00:30:08.919 reconciliation 00:30:08.919 --> 00:30:10.479 where there 00:30:10.479 --> 00:30:11.159 has been 00:30:11.159 --> 00:30:13.919 breakdown, to 00:30:13.919 --> 00:30:14.859 extend kindness 00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:16.599 to outsiders 00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:17.359 because that's 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.859 what Jesus 00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:20.219 does for 00:30:20.219 --> 00:30:20.859 us. 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:22.599 So, Jesus 00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:24.279 is God's 00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:25.179 Christ. 00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:26.799 He is God's 00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:27.220 way of 00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:28.640 blessing the 00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:28.960 world. 00:30:29.080 --> 00:30:30.400 He is God's 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:31.200 eternal 00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:32.200 king. 00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:34.720 Will we 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:35.460 delight in 00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:36.400 him, really 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:37.240 delight in 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:37.920 him, love 00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:38.720 him, worship 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:40.519 him this 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.400 Christmas?