WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:10.519 ! Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:12.339 --> 00:00:20.400 ! Man, thank you all so much. What a beautiful song, expressing the longing of God's people 00:00:20.400 --> 00:00:29.600 for Him to come, to come to Him that first time. You can think about them singing that. And we also 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:35.359 feel that, don't we, as God's people now longing for Him to come a second time. 00:00:37.140 --> 00:00:44.460 We've spent a few months here walking through some key stories in the Old Testament where that 00:00:44.460 --> 00:00:54.000 longing is palpable because God has promised that He's going to restore the broken relationship with 00:00:54.000 --> 00:01:02.060 His people, to send the seed of the woman to crush the head of the serpent, to provide the sacrifice 00:01:02.060 --> 00:01:09.859 for our sins, to install the permanent king on David's throne so that His people are rescued from 00:01:09.859 --> 00:01:17.579 their rebellion and restored to relationship with Him in His place, bearing His image for His glory. 00:01:17.579 --> 00:01:24.159 That's what He's been promising. And God has kept His people going for generations with glimpses of 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:32.140 His faithfulness to these promises. But it's not all there yet, is it? We get to the Old Testament, 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:42.459 the end of it, they're still awaiting Messiah, true fulfillment. 400 years later, the New Testament 00:01:42.459 --> 00:01:50.919 opens with the Gospel of Matthew, specifically written to God's people who have lived this story 00:01:50.919 --> 00:02:00.099 with this longing, this expectation to tell them good news, the Messiah, the Christ has come. It's 00:02:00.099 --> 00:02:06.299 Christmas at the beginning of Matthew. The promised rescue and restoration is finally here. 00:02:06.299 --> 00:02:13.139 And so I thought, since we are now among those who are tracking with the Old Testament, right? You've all 00:02:13.139 --> 00:02:20.759 made it through, that after many sermons of that, we would go to the Gospel of Matthew this Christmas 00:02:20.759 --> 00:02:28.759 season and look at Matthew's account of those promises being fulfilled in the coming Jesus. 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:34.240 Matthew's going to tell us about some pretty amazing things, about a virgin birth, 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:43.219 about a divinely named child, about the visit of the Magi from afar. But he starts this morning at the 00:02:43.219 --> 00:02:50.180 beginning of his book with the background on Jesus. He gives us a genealogy all the way back to Father 00:02:50.180 --> 00:03:00.360 Abraham, recorded with a specific purpose in mind of pointing us to Jesus's place in this epic story. 00:03:00.360 --> 00:03:08.420 Some of you are going to have trouble hearing me read this list of names without hearing Andrew 00:03:08.420 --> 00:03:19.680 Peterson singing in your head, that's okay. Whether you know who that is or not, listen as I read for names 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:28.360 you recognize in the family tree of the Son of God. When God writes his story with the most important 00:03:28.360 --> 00:03:37.360 person of all coming, who gets included as part of that process? Look for people you recognize. Matthew 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:46.440 1 verse 1. The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 00:03:47.720 --> 00:03:54.500 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his 00:03:54.500 --> 00:04:02.659 brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron 00:04:02.659 --> 00:04:08.819 the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nashon, and Nashon the 00:04:08.819 --> 00:04:16.579 father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, 00:04:16.579 --> 00:04:25.539 and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king, and David was the father of Solomon 00:04:25.539 --> 00:04:33.299 by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah 00:04:33.299 --> 00:04:40.699 the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father 00:04:40.699 --> 00:04:47.779 of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 00:04:48.099 --> 00:04:53.920 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 00:04:54.459 --> 00:05:01.159 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah, and his brothers at the time of the deportation to Babylon." 00:05:01.159 --> 00:05:06.639 And after the deportation to Babylon, Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:31.680 Listen very closely. 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:33.899 I don't want to read this twice. 00:05:33.899 --> 00:05:44.659 And Jacob, the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 00:05:45.919 --> 00:05:49.379 So all the generations from Abraham to David were 14 generations. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:53.179 And from David to the deportation to Babylon, 14 generations. 00:05:53.579 --> 00:05:58.620 And from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ, 14 generations. 00:05:59.479 --> 00:06:00.479 This is God's word. 00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:01.699 Let's ask for his help. 00:06:03.899 --> 00:06:06.679 Father, what a family tree. 00:06:09.159 --> 00:06:14.279 Here that we might see the Savior you sent for us. 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:15.879 Help us see him. 00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:22.399 Help us as we look to your word to see those you sent to bring him to us. 00:06:24.599 --> 00:06:28.879 Show us, Jesus, anew and afresh for our hearts. 00:06:29.019 --> 00:06:30.079 We ask in his name. 00:06:30.919 --> 00:06:31.219 Amen. 00:06:31.219 --> 00:06:31.359 Amen. 00:06:33.899 --> 00:06:37.099 Now that is quite a list, right? 00:06:38.179 --> 00:06:40.099 Forty some names in there. 00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:41.620 Some of them pronounced correctly. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:48.979 But regardless, I want you to contemplate this morning not just a long list of names. 00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:55.539 Think about the generations of waiting that they represent. 00:06:55.540 --> 00:07:01.319 This list goes back way beyond where any of us can even trace our family trees. 00:07:01.879 --> 00:07:09.340 Many, many people have come and gone and still waiting. 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:13.259 Still trusting God. 00:07:13.820 --> 00:07:17.400 Still awaiting the one promised Savior. 00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:18.379 When's he coming? 00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:22.180 And Matthew is writing this to say, now. 00:07:22.180 --> 00:07:24.300 Now, now he's come. 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:28.079 I'm telling you about Jesus Christ. 00:07:28.540 --> 00:07:29.879 The promised Messiah. 00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:31.180 The anointed King. 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:34.879 He is the hero here, right? 00:07:35.139 --> 00:07:37.620 He's the focus of Christmas. 00:07:38.060 --> 00:07:38.740 You know that. 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:41.019 The coming of the Christ. 00:07:41.159 --> 00:07:42.060 That's what it's about. 00:07:42.060 --> 00:07:45.199 And so we're going to come back to him in just a few minutes. 00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:54.420 But as God tells the Christmas story in this account, as he focuses our attention on his 00:07:54.420 --> 00:08:01.819 son come to rescue us, to bring us back to him, he tells us about many other people in 00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:02.480 his family. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:12.000 Maybe fresh off Thanksgiving, you are very aware that there are awkward people in every family. 00:08:13.160 --> 00:08:19.060 You know, difficult people to explain, you know, in each of our stories. 00:08:19.660 --> 00:08:24.120 Nearly every Christmas movie has that family member who just doesn't fit, right? 00:08:24.420 --> 00:08:29.319 If you are struggling to think of one in your family right now, maybe it's you. 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:32.559 We can talk later. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:39.519 But a lot of times we try to write difficult people out of our stories, don't we? 00:08:39.779 --> 00:08:42.019 To avoid being with them. 00:08:43.439 --> 00:08:46.960 Not to introduce them to the kids or the girlfriend, right? 00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:48.259 This could be awkward. 00:08:49.720 --> 00:08:56.539 It's enough of an instinct that we have that many of us struggle this way with God and his 00:08:56.539 --> 00:08:56.980 story. 00:08:56.980 --> 00:09:03.519 He's writing such a big, glorious story throughout history, right? 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:08.100 That we often feel like we're outside of it for a couple of reasons. 00:09:08.220 --> 00:09:17.180 Perhaps either he's got us as so insignificant that surely he's forgotten us. 00:09:17.259 --> 00:09:20.240 He's just written us out of anything important. 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:25.779 Maybe for you it's because of pain or grief. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:28.000 You feel forgotten. 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:33.480 Like God's moving on with things but left you behind. 00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:36.659 Just kind of written out of his story. 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:42.600 Or perhaps what you feel is that God has actually written me off. 00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:48.800 He's got really important things to accomplish and any time he hands the ball to us, we just 00:09:48.800 --> 00:09:49.379 fumble it. 00:09:49.680 --> 00:09:51.399 We can't handle it. 00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:52.759 We've sinned so big. 00:09:52.940 --> 00:09:54.440 We've messed up so bad. 00:09:54.580 --> 00:10:02.540 We've blown it so often that we just assume God has given up or moved on from us. 00:10:02.539 --> 00:10:09.719 I mean, if we're honest, that's how we often treat other people like us. 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:16.100 So perhaps without even really thinking about it that way, we've written ourselves off, relegated 00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:18.960 to a life distant from God. 00:10:20.040 --> 00:10:28.040 Of just getting by and scrolling through life, hoping maybe we'll end up in heaven against 00:10:28.040 --> 00:10:29.279 all odds somehow. 00:10:31.560 --> 00:10:37.620 And that's why I want us to see the people who are actually included in God's Christmas 00:10:37.620 --> 00:10:38.320 story. 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:45.420 It just might completely change your view of yourself in relationship to God. 00:10:45.640 --> 00:10:49.000 Or it might completely change your view of someone else. 00:10:51.160 --> 00:10:56.400 So first notice God's Christmas story features failures. 00:10:57.540 --> 00:11:05.220 When I say it features them, I mean intentionally highlighted, like he doesn't want you to miss 00:11:05.220 --> 00:11:05.380 them. 00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:12.480 There are, for example, five women listed in this genealogy, which is very notable because 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:17.080 typically at this time only men were recorded in lists like this. 00:11:17.580 --> 00:11:22.600 But God goes out of his way to write these women in. 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:27.000 Obviously not every woman who is involved through the generation. 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:31.259 But he picks four to mention before Mary. 00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:36.639 Of those four, three are prostitutes or adulteresses. 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:38.700 Wow. 00:11:38.700 --> 00:11:39.200 Tamar. 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:39.200 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:39.200 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:39.200 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:39.200 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:39.200 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:39.200 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:39.200 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:39.200 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:39.200 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:39.200 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:39.200 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:39.200 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:39.200 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:39.200 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:39.200 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:49.100 Tamar, in one of the most sordid stories in the entire Bible of sinning and of being sinned against. 00:11:51.040 --> 00:11:52.900 Rahab, you remember her? 00:11:53.540 --> 00:11:54.420 In Jericho. 00:11:56.120 --> 00:12:07.520 And Bathsheba, who's the wife of Uriah, who becomes Solomon's mother as a result of a sinful relationship with David, right? 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:17.120 In other words, notable sinners, people who have failed morally in public ways. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:22.259 God seems eager to include them in his family tree. 00:12:23.019 --> 00:12:31.840 Just note right here in particular that women objectified by others are dignified by God. 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:40.980 Against all cultural norms of the day, God values them and writes them in. 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:52.700 Men, are we following God in resisting, even contradicting cultural norms in our day? 00:12:52.700 --> 00:13:10.580 The norms of pornography culture, of an external beauty culture, of a consumer culture, all of those objectify women, don't they? 00:13:10.580 --> 00:13:18.120 And too often, we selfishly go right along with the norms of our culture. 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:22.220 Brothers, we speak to you for a minute. 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:26.840 And to myself, we must say no. 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:28.180 No. 00:13:28.540 --> 00:13:31.700 No matter who else objectifies you, 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:41.420 I eagerly, intentionally value you, dignify you, honor you like my God does. 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:43.360 He's so good, isn't he? 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:45.320 So good. 00:13:46.800 --> 00:13:48.080 Talk about failures. 00:13:49.800 --> 00:13:51.100 There's David himself. 00:13:52.520 --> 00:13:55.560 In many ways, this list is built around David. 00:13:55.900 --> 00:13:57.280 If you look back and study it. 00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:59.659 He's one of the two names up front. 00:14:00.439 --> 00:14:04.039 Of the many kings listed here, and there's a bunch of them, 00:14:04.439 --> 00:14:06.799 how many are referred to as the king? 00:14:08.079 --> 00:14:08.659 Just one. 00:14:09.579 --> 00:14:14.279 David, a leader of God's people, a recipient of God's precious promises. 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:18.959 So maybe it's no surprise that he makes it into Jesus' genealogy. 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:27.480 But do you think anyone in the family expected his entry in the family annals to read, 00:14:28.540 --> 00:14:33.240 David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah? 00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:36.040 Awkward. 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:38.840 What? 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:41.120 What about Goliath? 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:44.420 What about the man after God's own heart? 00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:46.000 Couldn't we have talked about that part? 00:14:46.680 --> 00:14:46.920 Nope. 00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:54.039 An entry here that highlights his adultery, murder, denials, cover-ups. 00:14:54.620 --> 00:15:01.360 The man supposed to lead God's people instead used them for his own selfish ends. 00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:02.679 Failure. 00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:09.879 And this becomes true in different ways of each of these kings now lined up after David. 00:15:10.339 --> 00:15:11.819 King after king. 00:15:12.199 --> 00:15:12.839 None perfect. 00:15:13.179 --> 00:15:14.059 Some worse than others. 00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:21.699 Building up or perhaps you would say trending down to the deportation and exile in Babylon. 00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:26.520 One after another that was seen as the leader of God's people. 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:28.140 High expectations, right? 00:15:28.300 --> 00:15:29.540 Great responsibility. 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:36.900 And they represent a whole nation of people who fail to honor Yahweh in their generation. 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:39.300 Who build altars to foreign gods. 00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:45.180 Who look for hope to nations around them and other people and horses and chariots. 00:15:45.400 --> 00:15:47.720 And not to their God. 00:15:48.820 --> 00:15:49.379 Failures. 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:49.460 Failures. 00:15:49.460 --> 00:15:49.500 Failures. 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:49.500 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:49.500 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:49.500 00:15:51.700 --> 00:15:52.140 Failures. 00:15:52.140 --> 00:15:55.860 I want to ask you this morning, what about your story? 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:00.700 Does your story involve chapters of living for yourself? 00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:04.580 Running away from God? 00:16:04.780 --> 00:16:06.160 Failing publicly? 00:16:07.160 --> 00:16:10.080 Feeling like you've let yourself down? 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:14.040 Let those you're supposed to love down? 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:17.360 Maybe let God down? 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:17.379 Let God down? 00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:24.439 I want you to hear good news this morning because most of our stories have those chapters. 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:28.880 So far from writing you off because of your failure. 00:16:28.880 --> 00:16:39.120 God has this huge heart for writing people like you into his big story of rescue and restoration. 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:43.279 I don't know exactly what it will look like for each of us. 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:50.340 But the story of Christmas is of a Savior who comes for people exactly like you. 00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:53.680 Who is born in too small Bethlehem. 00:16:53.680 --> 00:16:54.060 Remember? 00:16:54.060 --> 00:16:55.259 We read that earlier. 00:16:55.780 --> 00:17:00.180 Bethlehem not worth giving attention to until all of a sudden it's put on the map. 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:03.100 Dignified by the birth of the Son of God. 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:05.960 Who comes as friend of sinners. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:11.160 Who intentionally wants us in his story. 00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:12.340 Warts and all. 00:17:12.340 --> 00:17:20.019 So that his gracious character and his redemptive power is highlighted even in our weakness and failure. 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:22.000 Thank the Lord for that. 00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:29.720 Pastor Ray Ortlund says that is the very essence of the people of God. 00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:32.620 What we now call the church. 00:17:32.619 --> 00:17:51.379 It's a community where wonderful things happen to unworthy people for the glory of Christ alone. 00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:56.859 Y'all this family tree is all about him and his glory. 00:17:56.859 --> 00:18:04.419 But if you know that you're unworthy then come around here and expect wonderful things to happen. 00:18:04.919 --> 00:18:10.579 Wonderful things to happen to you and in your story because he is so great and so gracious. 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:14.019 Now if you are in the family. 00:18:15.699 --> 00:18:21.699 I also want you to think if you're living with that same heart as God has toward failures. 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:24.559 Are you replicating that in your life? 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:30.319 Is it possible that you're writing people off that God might be writing in to his story? 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:35.779 Or do you make notable failures feel at home, safe with you? 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:41.579 Do you treat even leaders who let you down the way Jesus treated Peter? 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:46.539 Pursuing him, restoring him, writing him a key role in his story. 00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:53.980 Are you more than just okay with sinners being in your story? 00:18:54.559 --> 00:19:02.019 Are you intentional to include them because they help you to understand and reflect the heart of God? 00:19:02.159 --> 00:19:03.480 Do you eat with failures? 00:19:03.619 --> 00:19:05.000 Do you listen to their stories? 00:19:05.419 --> 00:19:11.659 Do you share your mutual need for the rescue of Jesus with the messiest people you know? 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:14.519 You know you may think but I don't know what to talk to him about. 00:19:14.919 --> 00:19:18.599 I suggest to you you'll find you have more in common than you may think. 00:19:18.899 --> 00:19:22.079 You're big failures in need of a bigger savior. 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:24.879 You could have lunch. 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:33.919 Next notice that this genealogy includes both outsiders and insiders. 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:46.680 What you would have expected in a genealogy of Jesus is one Jewish man after another in a pure line of descendants for a pure family tree. 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:54.680 After all that is part of what's important here to trace back to Abraham and to David. 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:56.620 It's important, right? 00:19:57.259 --> 00:20:07.720 But there are several outsiders, those you might not expect, people who are somewhat out of place in this list or in the family of God at all, we might think. 00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:13.160 We've mentioned it's easiest to catch the women when they're included. 00:20:13.360 --> 00:20:17.519 Several women in this genealogy included in a way that would have been quite unusual. 00:20:19.360 --> 00:20:22.579 Three of them are Gentiles. 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:26.339 Rahab, a Canaanite. 00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:29.740 Ruth, a Canaanite from Jericho. 00:20:31.099 --> 00:20:32.799 Ruth, a Moabitess. 00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:38.559 And Bathsheba, whose husband at least was a Hittite. 00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:41.119 Foreigners to the people of God. 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:43.779 Outside of God's covenant promises. 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:49.639 Not familiar with the ways and the practices of a good Yahweh-fearing Israelite. 00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:59.440 And yet, included and intentionally mentioned in the genealogy of the king of the Jews, the promised Jewish Messiah. 00:20:59.820 --> 00:21:00.220 Why? 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:04.620 Partly because once again we get a glimpse of God's heart. 00:21:05.080 --> 00:21:10.820 The God who said to Abraham that he would bless all the nations through him. 00:21:12.080 --> 00:21:13.840 Starts writing them in, doesn't he? 00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:15.580 Slowly for now. 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:17.000 One name at a time. 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:21.799 But already being written in in a significant way. 00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:24.019 And y'all, that's most of us. 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:24.500 Right? 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:25.500 Gentiles. 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:28.619 Some of us have a Jewish heritage in here. 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:32.480 But most are Gentiles grafted in by grace. 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:36.940 So if you show up at church for a gathering of God's family today. 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:40.000 And you think you don't belong because you didn't grow up here. 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.319 No way. 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:47.779 You show up at the family gathering and you don't know how to pronounce family members' names. 00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:49.399 Neither does the pastor. 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:58.359 Don't understand exactly how it could work with this whole Christmas thing about Jesus being the son of God. 00:21:58.539 --> 00:22:01.539 And he's the son of Joseph by Mary. 00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:03.799 Neither do we. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:04.980 Okay? 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:07.220 But come next week. 00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:10.619 And we're going to learn together about that part of the story. 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:16.000 Southwood, we are to be a family like God's family. 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:22.960 Intentionally invite an outsider to your church, to your grace group, to your home, to your life. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.359 And see what God does. 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:26.019 He loves to work there. 00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:26.660 Okay? 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:31.920 It's also true though if you look at the passage as a whole. 00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:36.299 You'll realize there are plenty of insiders included too. 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:39.240 Matthew's Jewish audience. 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:43.019 Those who would consider themselves religious insiders. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:46.960 They're the ones who trace lineage to Abraham, right? 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:48.639 They're the ones looking for that. 00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:52.700 They're the ones who tell stories of King David still. 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.619 And others in the list. 00:22:54.619 --> 00:23:01.399 They are the ones who want to know the generations between the Babylonian exile and the coming of the Messiah. 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:03.179 They're tracking with that. 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:08.599 I've pointed out to you the exceptions to the rule in the genealogy. 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:16.459 But most of it is a very Jewish rendering of generation after generation of God's covenant people. 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:20.279 The men in this genealogy were circumcised. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.359 Many read the Old Testament. 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:24.719 Most of them worshipped Yahweh. 00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:26.059 At least some. 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:28.899 Those who have grown up among God's people. 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:30.299 They're sinners too. 00:23:30.419 --> 00:23:33.559 But he hasn't written them out of his story either. 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:40.399 In fact, God's pattern of growing his kingdom is regularly covenant child after covenant child. 00:23:40.679 --> 00:23:43.139 Generation after generation. 00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:47.800 Kids who grow up in church and can quote more scripture than Shakespeare. 00:23:48.320 --> 00:23:49.920 He loves them too. 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:50.320 Okay? 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:57.300 Listen, the Messiah came as a Jew for the Jews as well. 00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:59.120 Lived among the Jews. 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:04.259 Be patient with people who are a little too churchy. 00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:07.179 Too uptight for your liking. 00:24:08.679 --> 00:24:10.239 They need Jesus too. 00:24:11.459 --> 00:24:13.319 Especially when they act like they don't. 00:24:15.719 --> 00:24:16.399 Failures. 00:24:17.679 --> 00:24:18.119 Sinners. 00:24:18.719 --> 00:24:19.299 Outsiders. 00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:20.479 Insiders. 00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:23.059 All written into God's story. 00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:23.920 Why? 00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:24.900 Why here? 00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:26.400 All for the sake of what? 00:24:27.299 --> 00:24:29.099 Honoring Jesus. 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:34.019 As important as every individual in the family tree is. 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:40.240 Matthew is sharing it with us to point us to Jesus as the Christ. 00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:40.980 Don't miss this. 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:42.740 He's very clear about it. 00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:46.460 God's Christmas story focuses on Jesus. 00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:51.740 From the start, verse 1, to the finish. 00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:53.460 Verse 16. 00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:56.440 Jesus is the Christ. 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.860 The promised Messiah. 00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:59.660 The anointed one. 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:02.400 He is the son of David. 00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:07.460 The one who will rightfully and righteously reign on David's throne forever. 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:13.519 One king after another in this list has failed to be the righteous ruler needed. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:16.639 But now, Matthew says, the king is here. 00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:18.980 The anointed Messiah has arrived. 00:25:20.379 --> 00:25:24.019 He is the one who's the son of Abraham. 00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:28.119 He's come to be the perfect savior that the Jews have longed for. 00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:33.900 But he's come in the line of Abraham to be the blessing to the nations that God promised Abraham. 00:25:34.379 --> 00:25:37.460 He and his descendants would indeed be. 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:42.980 And as we've seen in this family tree already, God has the nations on his mind. 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:49.160 Matthew even intentionally leaves some kings out of the list. 00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:50.799 You may not have noticed. 00:25:52.379 --> 00:25:53.000 Why? 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:57.639 Because it's not all about every individual name being included. 00:25:57.879 --> 00:26:00.139 He's painting this perfect structure. 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:03.359 He's trying to paint a beautiful picture for you. 00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:09.599 Highlighting Jesus as the king to bring God's people back from their rebellion and exile 00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:14.079 into joyful, obedient relationship with him. 00:26:14.459 --> 00:26:21.259 What Matthew is telling you is Jesus is the perfect savior for everyone on this list. 00:26:21.479 --> 00:26:23.039 Jew and Gentile. 00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:24.859 He's come for you. 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:25.500 Jew and Gentile. 00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:25.859 Jew and Gentile. 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:26.859 Jew and Gentile. 00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:34.500 All the failures and outsiders and insiders in this list need Jesus, the Christ, to be the 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:37.619 righteous king and the perfect savior. 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:40.439 That's the point of Christmas. 00:26:41.459 --> 00:26:42.879 That rescue has come. 00:26:43.139 --> 00:26:51.359 In the person of the one long promised to be and do for us what we couldn't be and do for 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.119 ourselves. 00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:58.039 That's Paul's point in 1 Corinthians when he writes these words. 00:26:58.899 --> 00:27:01.000 Consider your calling, brothers. 00:27:01.679 --> 00:27:04.559 Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards. 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.479 Not many were powerful. 00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:08.319 Not many were of noble birth. 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:12.079 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. 00:27:12.419 --> 00:27:15.159 God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:18.039 God chose what is low and despised in the world. 00:27:18.159 --> 00:27:23.019 Even things that are not to bring to nothing things that are so that no human being might 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:24.839 boast in the presence of God. 00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:26.919 We're not all that amazing. 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:27.480 Okay? 00:27:27.919 --> 00:27:28.879 Just own it. 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.659 That's us. 00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:36.680 But because of God, you are in Christ Jesus. 00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:37.620 It's about him. 00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:41.060 He became to us, what did we need? 00:27:41.580 --> 00:27:42.779 Wisdom from God. 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:43.980 Oh, we needed wisdom. 00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:47.519 Who became to us righteousness. 00:27:47.940 --> 00:27:49.460 We needed righteousness. 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:51.920 Who became to us sanctification. 00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:53.539 We needed that. 00:27:53.820 --> 00:27:54.700 And redemption. 00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:57.200 Oh, we needed to be rescued. 00:27:58.000 --> 00:28:03.360 So that as it is written, let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:05.700 It's about him. 00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:11.759 See, in God's economy, failures become successes. 00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:14.000 Sinners become saints. 00:28:14.320 --> 00:28:16.240 Outsiders become included. 00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:20.480 Even religious insiders become dependent believers. 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:26.259 All because of the one great Savior, Jesus the Christ. 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:28.220 It's all about him. 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:34.900 That is why even people like us who need him so desperately can be included in the story. 00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:42.360 Jesus is the joy of every longing heart. 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:48.160 Both the first time that he's born to go to a cross in our place. 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:56.779 And for those of us who start by singing that he's come, but are still longing desperately for him to come again. 00:28:56.980 --> 00:29:04.840 He's the joy of our hearts as we long for his return to make us alive with him and bring us home with him forever. 00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:16.799 The hopes and fears of all the years are still met in the little town of Bethlehem by a God who writes into his story. 00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:24.059 People like you and me who should by all accounts have been written off. 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:35.579 A woman I've known for many years who's gone through much and is now undergoing cancer treatment shared some of her story publicly. 00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:37.460 I'll read just a little bit of it to you. 00:29:38.619 --> 00:29:39.359 She writes, 00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:54.919 This news is not easy for me to take. 00:29:55.199 --> 00:29:57.919 First of all, you don't know me like God does. 00:29:58.079 --> 00:30:00.439 I'm not a sweetheart or a good person. 00:30:00.699 --> 00:30:01.539 I'm a mess. 00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:04.259 I'm bitter and angry. 00:30:04.639 --> 00:30:06.960 I'm self-righteous and rude. 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:09.559 I'm self-centered and confused. 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:12.299 I'm divorced and distraught. 00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:16.460 I don't know about you, but I like to earn things. 00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:19.359 Money, respect, friendship, love. 00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:24.519 But with God, everything I have and everything I am comes up short. 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.420 Way short. 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:28.180 He sees me as I really am. 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:29.299 And it's not pretty. 00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:33.180 I deserve to be written off, written out of his story, and I feel it. 00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:39.700 So here I am holding nothing good, being nothing good. 00:30:40.619 --> 00:30:42.299 Why does God love me? 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:48.619 Because as much as I like to make everything be about me, this isn't. 00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:50.019 It's about him. 00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:52.279 It's about what all the best stories are about. 00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.500 Prince Charming. 00:30:54.119 --> 00:30:57.059 He sees me here pitiful and in need. 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:59.359 And he comes to my rescue. 00:30:59.639 --> 00:31:01.619 He scoops me up and says, I know. 00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:03.799 I know you can't make it. 00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:08.079 I know your energy is gone and your goodness is non-existent. 00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:10.139 I have you. 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:12.899 I will do it all for you. 00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:14.919 I will be everything you can't be. 00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:17.220 And he's so beautiful. 00:31:17.919 --> 00:31:21.299 He's absolutely radiant in his holiness and purity. 00:31:21.639 --> 00:31:24.500 He didn't come for me because I'm a good girl and I earned it. 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:26.920 He came because I'm broken and I know it. 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:30.900 And he wanted to love me and give me hope for every day forever. 00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:34.460 He's so beautiful that he writes me into his story. 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:39.759 He sees the beauty he made me for and he wants to restore me to that beauty. 00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:42.900 I don't know why he loves me. 00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:46.480 And I spend most of every day running away from him. 00:31:46.819 --> 00:31:51.660 But I know deep in my dirty little heart that his love is true love. 00:31:52.119 --> 00:31:52.599 Inescapable. 00:31:53.099 --> 00:31:56.220 And on Sundays, my favorite day, I can't run. 00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:58.839 I just have to sit there and hear it. 00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:00.839 He loves you. 00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:02.460 Why? 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.879 Because he does. 00:32:03.880 --> 00:32:08.740 If you ever feel the need to have someone love you the way he loves me, 00:32:09.540 --> 00:32:10.860 then in the words of a hymn writer, 00:32:11.660 --> 00:32:15.560 all the fitness he requires is to feel your need of him. 00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:20.020 And if you are angry at the church for being full of hypocrites, 00:32:20.540 --> 00:32:21.260 I understand. 00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:24.140 That's why we're there. 00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:27.060 Because we need him most of all. 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:30.400 Yep. 00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:33.180 God's family, right? 00:32:34.140 --> 00:32:35.560 Full of failures. 00:32:36.860 --> 00:32:37.720 We're messy. 00:32:38.820 --> 00:32:39.220 Needy. 00:32:40.540 --> 00:32:41.620 But listen. 00:32:42.560 --> 00:32:43.860 There's good news. 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:46.220 Dear friends. 00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:51.380 Your great Savior and King, Jesus the Christ, 00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:56.280 came to be born to include you in his very family. 00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:59.559 Even when you were a failure and an outsider, 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:01.259 undeserving of his love, 00:33:01.379 --> 00:33:02.359 and he knew it, 00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:04.980 and he didn't give up on you. 00:33:05.139 --> 00:33:07.099 He gave you himself. 00:33:07.779 --> 00:33:09.879 And he wrote you into his story, 00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:12.700 the most wonderful story in all the world, 00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:15.759 with the most delightful ending yet to come. 00:33:16.019 --> 00:33:17.599 And it's still underway right now. 00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:19.480 With him still as the hero, 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:22.420 and with each of us as significant characters 00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:24.339 because of his grace. 00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:29.059 So there are many others just like us 00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:33.439 who need you to write them into your story, 00:33:33.899 --> 00:33:36.639 who need to know this righteous king, 00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:38.799 this perfect Savior we have. 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:41.579 Who will hear from you 00:33:41.579 --> 00:33:46.259 and feel from you that Jesus is the focus of the story 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:48.359 and that he writes them in 00:33:48.359 --> 00:33:50.759 rather than writing them off? 00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:52.439 Let's pray. 00:33:52.439 --> 00:33:52.480 Let's pray. 00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:52.480 00:33:54.339 --> 00:34:00.059 Jesus, help us to understand 00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:02.679 because we're not used to being treated like this. 00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:07.819 To have the one who deserves all the attention 00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:10.500 to welcome us, 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.599 to draw us in, 00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.940 to care about us. 00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:18.539 We praise you and we thank you 00:34:18.539 --> 00:34:21.800 for your grace and love, 00:34:22.240 --> 00:34:23.679 your mercy stooping 00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:27.300 to live with us and die for us. 00:34:27.700 --> 00:34:29.659 And we ask for your help. 00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:30.740 By your spirit, 00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:32.760 might we show that kind of love? 00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:36.920 Might we love as we have been loved? 00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:39.980 Might we find those who think 00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:42.840 they would not be lovable to you 00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:46.280 and help them know that they are 00:34:46.280 --> 00:34:49.139 because of who you are. 00:34:51.200 --> 00:34:53.039 Jesus, help us. 00:34:53.159 --> 00:34:54.400 We want to be your church. 00:34:54.720 --> 00:34:55.880 We want to be a place 00:34:55.880 --> 00:34:58.900 where wonderful things happen to unworthy people. 00:34:58.900 --> 00:35:01.559 And so would you make us 00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:03.119 more and more into your image 00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:05.680 as we sit with you, 00:35:05.740 --> 00:35:06.660 as we walk with you, 00:35:06.760 --> 00:35:08.240 as this Christmas season 00:35:08.240 --> 00:35:10.420 we realize you've come after us 00:35:10.420 --> 00:35:12.260 and you're coming for us again. 00:35:12.680 --> 00:35:13.360 Thank you. 00:35:14.740 --> 00:35:15.820 We ask in your name. 00:35:16.660 --> 00:35:16.940 Amen. 00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:19.880 For more information, 00:35:20.220 --> 00:35:22.200 visit us online at southwood.org.