Matthew, the first book of the New Testament, begins with Jesus’ genealogy. I have to admit, I’ve often skipped this part of Matthew. But I’ve come to realize that Jesus’ genealogy tells us so much about Who God is: a God of mercy, of grace, of second chances. A God who takes our mistakes and the messes we make and turns them into something good.
What do I mean by that? Well, let’s take a look at the first verse:
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. -Matthew 1:1
God made promises to both Abraham (Genesis 22:15-18) and David (2 Samuel 7:12). And in this genealogy, we see the fulfillment of that promise.
But more than that, we see how God used sinners. He used people who messed up, who strayed from Him. Abraham tried to get ahead of God’s plan for a son (Genesis 16). David had an affair and went to great lengths to hide his sin (2 Samuel 11). Yet God used them in a mighty way.
The second chances don’t stop there, though. Verse 2 mentions Jacob who conned his father and stole his brother’s blessing (Genesis 27) and Judah who sold his brother Joseph into slavery (Genesis 37:26-27). Then verse 3 mentions Judah’s son, who was born to him after Judah refused to follow Levirate custom and give his lastborn to his son’s widow (Genesis 38).
Then there’s Rahab, the harlot who helped the Israelite spies (Joshua 2). Ruth who as an Moabitess was an outsider (Ruth 1:4).
All these people God used. All these people He brought into His fold. From this, from Christ’s genealogy, we see the core of Who He is: the Redeemer.
Now the Old Testament starts to make sense, the histories and prophecies and genealogies. In a way only the Great Author can do, God provides a sequel with a seamless transition, with no plot holes or loose threads. Everything He’s laid out, everything He’s foreshadowed begins to come together.
And we see that this is why Christ came. Christ came for the lost, the ones who are burdened, overwhelmed, disheartened. For the woman who tries to take her future into her own hands. For the brother who betrays his own. For the harlot who wants a new beginning. For the outsider who longs to belong. For the adulterer who tries to cover his sin.
This is Christ. This is God. This is love.
And that’s why we shouldn’t skip this part of Matthew. We should cherish it, study it, relish it, learn from it. Because it shows God has a plan, and that plan is salvation.
