Your Mama

Begats 

No one cares about your mama. I’m sure she’s a fine woman, but unless she’s "somebody", no one cares. Lineage has declined in status and necessity in the twenty-first century. Generations proceeding the Baby Boomers subscribe to the mantra of “making a name for oneself,” as opposed to the traditional pursuit of “upholding the family name”. Anyone can be anyone, in spite or despite one's upbringing or bringer-uppers , thus, making your mama (or daddy for that matter) not a number one topic of interest. 

As Matthew introduces his account of the Gospel, he delivers a long list of begats. Abraham begat  Isaac, Isaac begat Jacob, and so on. You know, it's the section of scripture no one volunteers to read in Sunday school, for fear of name pronunciation. This biblical list of baby names is much more than an introductory obligation or a prelude to the "real story". 

It is the real story. 

Matthew opens the door to show the reader this epic tale points towards Jesus, even long before his birth. He is the hinge. He is the crux. He is the climax. Every begat is intentional, meaningful, instrumental. It is all about Jesus. 

As I consider this lot, I am hopeful because of its content. It is a clinging post of hope for the lacking nature and high calling of my soul. The genealogy of Christ consists of ordinary, at times seemingly worthless, individuals summoned into the redemptive work of the creator. 

From Abraham, we see God's promise of ultimate reconciliation with his people through his own sons.  God beckons him to gaze upon the stars and attempt to number them because likewise in magnitude will be his offspring.  Yet, he does not wait on the Lord. Abraham takes matters into his own hands, impregnating one of his servants.  

And he is in the bloodline of Christ. 

In David, we see a man after God's own heart. A man with faith that slays giants. A man who is the rightful, appointed King of Israel. A man who sees a beautiful woman bathing on a roof and says "I want".  A man desperate to cover his transgression to the point of murder. A man who grieves deeply his sin. 

And he is in the bloodline of Christ. 

Rahab, a woman who exchanged sex for money. By faith, she risked her life to aide God's people. 

And she is in the bloodline of Christ. 

Our creator takes the broken, deprave creatures of this world and redeems them for his holy name. 

The beginning of Matthew proves this well.  May this genealogy ushers us into the season when we recall the birth of Christ, by which he again uses the unlikely to do the incredible.