Family tree

Katy Emslie-Smith October 01, 2022 0 1

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Matthew 1: 1-6 (NRSVA)

1 An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, 4 and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,

A month now closes where we have all had much cause to consider royal lineage, no doubt with a great mix of emotions, thoughts and responses to all that we have experienced in our country in the past twenty four days. A crown has been passed between mother and son. We have been prompted to reflect on our own family history, to remember parents and grandparents, and to consider family heritage.

The first six verses of Matthew’s gospel bring us to royalty, King David. A further great sweep down the generations mixes those from obscure beginnings with leaders and kings. Three sets of fourteen fathers are named, all of them representing a great network of families – sisters, wives, brothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents. All are united in the great theme of God’s working in the human story to reveal his narrative of salvation and redemption which is fulfilled with the coming to us of Jesus Christ.

Four women are named, those without status in the culture of their times, and excluded from the benefit of the law by their ethnicity or behaviour – one a prostitute, one who pretended to be, one an adulteress, one a foreigner. They are recognised and included. The reach of God’s invitation to be part of his family is broad. Ethnicity is of no consequence, and what we have done which might shame us, does not follow with us into His family. In all of our stories, in the complex mix of virtue and that which we would prefer to remain hidden, He is forming His people. We are included in Christ, moving towards the day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

PRAYER:

Lord God, we thank you for the great reach of your people and family, back through history and across the globe in our current day. Help us to seek always to include all people, in the honour of Jesus’ name and to the praise of his glory. Amen.