If It's Such Good News, Why Does the Christmas Story Begin with an Obituary?

After hundreds of years of silence, it was time to unfurl the greatest story ever told. Why launch the Christmas story with an obituary? If you think about it that's exactly what Matthew 1 is. It's a long list of dead people including the names of their parents and their heirs. How is this "good news"? Typically, a geneology was used to show just how pure and powerful a leader's family tree was. That's not what Jesus did.

When God came to be with us, He could have selected any family He wanted. Remarkably, Jesus did not choose to draw his linage exclusively from the wealthy, powerful, or even devout. Several entries beg for the disclaimer, "It's complicated." Spiritually, Jesus was a perfectly observant Jew. Ethnically, socially, morally... It's a mix. Although the Lord is from the line of David, as prophecy requires, hints of each of Noah's son's can be found in Christ's geneology. Jesus's lineage provides evidence the line from the old childrens song is accurate; "Red and yellow, black and white were are all precious in His sight."

Tamar, who produced children with her father-in-law, was Canaanite. So was Rahab the prostitute spy, whose name could be translated big, proud, or quarelsome. Ruth was a Moabite. Bathsheba, the wife of Urriah, was connected to the Hittites through marriage. Jewish rulers were not above reproach, either. Ahaz sacrificed his son to Molech. Joash ordered Zechariah's slaughter in the Temple court. It's likely, Manasseh had Isaiah sawn in two.

In spite of it all, Jesus was perfect, sinless. He did not point to those who came before Him crying, "If only...", in part, because no one, including Jesus's own ancestors, came before Him. What are we to learn from the pagans, princes, paupers, prostitutes, sinners and saints all there to be found in the Messiah's geneology? One of the big questions the Book of Matthew addresses is, "Who is this gospel for?" Matthew opens with the answer. From every race and king to every killer and kid, Jesus chose to take His blood from the exact people He would shed His blood for, all of us. Beautifully, the first words of the Christmas story announce, "Yes, you are included; there is good news even for you!" That is Worth Remembering.