Matthew 1:16 “And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.”
As we begin our Sunday morning study not just in the Gospel of Matthew, but in essence we’re moving into the New Testament we talked about the 400 silent years from God between the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi and the first words from God that are penned by the jewish tax gatherer named Matthew “gift of God.” History was primed and ready for the coming of God’s promised Messiah… Jesus.
After giving us Jesus lineage from Abraham and from David… Matthew points out that Jesus was a natural Jew through Abraham but also is connected to the royal line of David.
In Jesus’ genealogy, we don’t see the WHO’S WHO of Old Testament characters, but its more of the WHO’S HE… AND EVEN SHE’S. God shows us through His own son’s family tree, that none of us can ever say again, “God Cannot Use Me.” “You don’t know what I’ve done! You don’t know the attitude I’ve had!” You, if you have said yes to Jesus are a part of God’s family… not as the enemy would have you feel… APART FROM THE FAMILY. Our enemy would want us to believe our failings will inevitably ostracize us from God… but on the contrary our God has brought us near through the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST. After 400 years if silence from God between the testaments God would say: “There Is Grace Enough For Everyone!” “Whoever Will Come To Me I Will Not Cast Out.”
In his book, “The Free Gift,” Richard Baxter says, “During the building of the Golden Gate Bridge over San Francisco Bay, construction fell badly behind schedule because several workers had accidentally fallen from the scaffolding to their deaths. Engineers and administrators could find no solution to the costly delays. Finally, someone suggested a gigantic net be hung under the bridge to catch any who fell. Finally in spite of the enormous cost, the engineers opted for the net. After it was installed, progress was hardly interrupted. A worker or two fell into the net but were saved. Ultimately, all the time lost to fear was regained by replacing fear with faith in the net. As we paid nothing for God’s eternal love and nothing for the Son of His love. So then let “Deserved” be written on the floor of hell but “Grace” and “Love” on the door of heaven.
By His Spirit,
Pastor Bill