Silence………
With the possible exception of a few words to individuals about which we’re told by the Gospel writers, there were generations of silence during which the heavens must have seemed like brass. No prophets. No miracles. No deliverance. No expressions of love. No chastisement. Only silence.
Where was God?
Then, as we move from Malachi – the last word – to Matthew, it is symbolic of a great heavenly page turn.
And just like that we are moved from an era of law with its rigidity and accompanying condemnation, to a time of grace and mercy. We move from priests entering into God’s presence once a year with fear and trembling, to being able to enter into His very presence as we want and as we are, knowing we are loved – fearing nothing.
Even the way to God is changed. No more animal sacrifices with its demands and rituals. The Son was here, walked the earth and died to atone for our sins – once and for all. From the bite of the apple in the garden to the last thought you had – forgiveness for every single act was provided for by the Son. All that is required is the acceptance of the great gift – an acknowledgement of our need and repentance followed by submission to His Lordship.
The great page turn. From Old Testament to New. From estrangement to reconciliation. From an aloof and unapproachable God to One Who indwells and never leaves or forsakes.
From the position of an outsider to a member of the family – a place at the table.
You say you’re not worthy? Well, a quick read through the first few verses of Matthew should help you with that.
There’s Abraham who lied about Sarah being his wife. There’s Judah, the brother-seller. You see Rahab the harlot? What about David – the man after God’s own heart – the adulterer and murder?
All have sinned and fallen short. There is none perfect – not one.
Do you remember some of Jesus’ last words? They were directed to the occupant of the cross next door. We don’t know about this man’s record, but Jesus did. We might be disgusted by him but Jesus wasn’t. In His last act before He died for us all, He forgave this man and welcomed him into His family.
Are you feeling better? Well, take a seat. The story is only beginning.
Jesus Christ came from the family of King David and also from the family of Abraham. And this is a list of his ancestors. From Abraham to King David, his ancestors were: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and his brothers (Judah’s sons were Perez and Zerah, and their mother was Tamar), Hezron; Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz (his mother was Rahab), Obed (his mother was Ruth), Jesse, and King David. From David to the time of the exile in Babylonia, the ancestors of Jesus were: David, Solomon (his mother had been Uriah’s wife), Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram; Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, and Jehoiachin and his brothers. From the exile to the birth of Jesus, his ancestors were: Jehoiachin, Shealtiel, Zerubbabel, Abiud, Eliakim, Azor, Zadok, Achim; Eliud, Eleazar, Matthan, Jacob, and Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is called the Messiah. There were fourteen generations from Abraham to David. There were also fourteen from David to the exile in Babylonia and fourteen more to the birth of the Messiah. –Matt 1:1-17
This is the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. – Mark 1:1
Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us. They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened. So I made a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. Honorable Theophilus, I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard. –Luke 1:1-4
When Jesus began to preach, he was about thirty years old. Everyone thought he was the son of Joseph. But his family went back through Heli, Matthat, Levi, Melchi, Jannai, Joseph, Mattathias, Amos, Nahum, Esli, Naggai, Maath, Mattathias, Semein, Josech, Joda; Joanan, Rhesa, Zerubbabel, Shealtiel, Neri, Melchi, Addi, Cosam, Elmadam, Er, Joshua, Eliezer, Jorim, Matthat, Levi; Simeon, Judah, Joseph, Jonam, Eliakim, Melea, Menna, Mattatha, Nathan, David, Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon, Nahshon; Amminadab, Admin, Arni, Hezron, Perez, Judah, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor, Serug, Reu, Peleg, Eber, Shelah; Cainan, Arphaxad, Shem, Noah, Lamech, Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Mahalaleel, Kenan, Enosh, and Seth. The family of Jesus went all the way back to Adam and then to God. –Luke 3:23-38
In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word. Everything that was created received its life from him, and his life gave light to everyone. The light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out. God sent a man named John, who came to tell about the light and to lead all people to have faith. John wasn’t that light. He came only to tell about the light. The true light that shines on everyone was coming into the world. The Word was in the world, but no one knew him, though God had made the world with his Word. He came into his own world, but his own nation did not welcome him. Yet some people accepted him and put their faith in him. So he gave them the right to be the children of God. They were not God’s children by nature or because of any human desires. God himself was the one who made them his children. The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From him all the kindness and all the truth of God have come down to us. John spoke about him and shouted, “This is the one I told you would come! He is greater than I am, because he was alive before I was born.” Because of all that the Son is, we have been given one blessing after another. The Law was given by Moses, but Jesus Christ brought us undeserved kindness and truth. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is truly God and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like. –John 1:1-18
