Jesus Lineage

 It’s not often that one reads the lineage of Jesus,

Much less hears it read aloud in church.

But yesterday was one of those rare days,

And I had the privilege of doing the read aloud.

Thanks to Andrew Peterson’s song, “Matthew’s Begats,”

I knew how to say all of the names in the lineage.

Some of the names are well known,

Like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Others are less known,

Like Azor, Zadok, and Achim.

But all of them—

Including the four women listed in the lineage—

Lived a life and had a story.

All of them had to make a living and keep food on the table.

All of them had good days and bad.

All of them had partners and raised children.

All of them had grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

I imagine that at some point in their lives,

All of them sat around staring at their babies,

Thinking that their babies were the most precious things in the world,

Celebrating their babies’ firsts,

Just as we celebrate our babies’ firsts today…

And that included Jesus.

We often think of Jesus as a tiny baby in the manger,

Aglow with light,

Shepherds and Wisemen coming to visit him,

Set apart from all other babies.

But, in the end, Jesus, fully God and fully human, was just a baby.

He breastfed, and burped, and peed, and pooped, and cried, and took his first steps.

He had a grandfather, Jacob, and a great-grandfather, Matthan.

He likely knew both of them,

And they both likely influenced him in one way or another—

If in no other way than influencing Jesus’ dad, Joseph,

Who then raised the Son of Man in his carpentry shop.

 

I’ve never been a history buff.

The words seem stale on the page and so far away.

But every once in awhile,

Like yesterday,

History comes alive and makes sense to me.

I remember that the words on the page are trying to capture life,

And that life is messy,

With hopes and dreams and joys and heartaches and laughter and tears and emotions.

I remember that people actually lived and that living is complicated,

Especially when trying to live counter-culturally while remaining relevant to the culture,

Which is what we, as 21^st Christians, are called to do.

 

I don’t much about Joram or Jotham,

But I know, now, that I am thankful that they lived.

I am thankful that they fumbled their way through life and raised a child who raised a child who raised a child who eventually raised Jesus

Who called us as brothers and sisters

And welcomed us into the Kingdom of God.

 

Dear God: Thank you for welcoming us into your family through Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit, that you are with us, from generation to generation, seeking mercy, loving justice, and pouring out your Love through imperfect people like me. We love you. Amen.