“And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, who bore Jesus, who is called the Messiah.” – Matthew 1:12-16
As a child, I was directed to read and know the books of the Bible. There were no passages less exciting than those listing the genealogy of Biblical personalities or tribes. I would deliberately overlook those in favor of reading the wonderful stories of familiar characters. In finding that my chosen passage is a record of lineage was cause for alarm; but after reading Matthew 1:12-17 and its history, I quickly realized that it is not like those of the Old Testament but one that leads us through family connection to the birth of our Christ. Jewish custom follows family lineage by Fathers to sons, but this passage lists several mothers of the ancestors. It also includes Gentiles as well as Hebrew ancestors. Certainly, a more modern approach to a list of ancestors as a historical record of Jesus’ human family through Joseph, his legal Father not his natural Father.
As we get older, we become curious about our ancestors and their lives. We look for validation as a unique being through our genealogy. Many of us study family records, talk to our elders and join services to find out who we are and where we fit into our families. What we gain is often a feeling of continuity, belonging and tradition.
Prayer: Father, what better season to discover our Christ’s humanity through Biblical history so we accept that our “Son of God” is also our “Son of Man”. Lead us to study our own family history with reverence and realization. Amen
Brenda Stewart