TEACHINGS FROM THE CHRIST CHILD
Matt 1:1-16
* (Faith Hill’s “A Baby Changes Everything”) The song says, “A baby changes everything” which is a true statement. When a baby comes into a home life is never the same and because of that young life the world is different. We all have been witness to a baby being born to a young couple or even adopted by a couple and the entirety of their existence was markedly changed by that one little life.
* It was into a world of darkness that the Christ child came. He came to bring light to the darkness and hope to the world. Colossians tells us that “Christ in us is the HOPE of glory.”
* 1 Peter 1:3 say “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
* This baby is our hope, peace, joy, and salvation. He came to bring life from death, darkness to light, and to bring hope from our hopelessness. He is Jesus the baby, the lamb, and Jesus the king.
* Now, let’s return to our text with the truth that He came to bring hope firmly place in our mind and let’s examine our text. Isn’t this an exciting text? It is a genealogy. As a general rule, most of us skip over these extended ‘begats’ and ‘fathered’ passages of scripture. However, in this one we find something very interesting. When we take into account that Matthew penned his letter in a culture that was highly patriarchal and women had few, if any, rights; it is amazing (at least to me) that 5 women are found listed among the 42 generations of men. Now for today this would be considered ‘discrimination’ but in that day, it was unheard of. For any females to be listed was almost unimaginable. Yet, here they are, five of them in all.
* For years, this truth passed me by. Yet, could it be that even in His genealogy that the Christ child was attempting to teach us eternal truths about the reason for His coming and what He desired to offer us. Jesus is our hope! This baby in a manger became the lamb of Calvary. He came to offer you and me life to the fullest, healing from the sicknesses which keep us in bondage, help to find meaning and purpose, as well as forgiveness from the sin which holds us captive.
* Today, let me call you this Christmas to hold up the banner which says, “There is HOPE in Jesus.” Even in His Genealogy we find hope. By taking a brief look at each of these five women, perhaps we can discover what Jesus desires to teach us about His coming and His Hope.
1) HOPE FOR THE FORGOTTEN -TAMAR
a) Have you ever felt forgotten? I remember being left at an uncle’s house during a sickness in family and I felt forgotten. The story of Tamar could well be known as the story of one who was forgotten. Do you remember it? We find it in Genesis 38. It is an unlikely story which by today’s thoughts would be an unacceptable story which reads like a soap-opera. Yet Tamar is mentioned in Jesus’ Genealogy. (TELL STORY)
b) Why would a woman with a story like this be included in the genealoty of God’s Son? Might I suggest that one reason is to remind us that there is hope for those who feel forgotten? God never forgets you. There have been times in my life that I have said, “Lord, please don’t forget me.” But I didn’t have to do that because He never forgets us. Even in our darkest times, His l love still reaches you & me to comfort & console. For the one who feels forgotten at this time of year, the Lord is available for you. He knows you by you name. If He remembers and includes Tamar, He remembers & cares for you.
2) HOPE FOR THE FALLEN - RAHAB –
a. While Tamar may have only played the part ‘one time’ of being a prostitute, Rahab was one. In fact, she is well known in History but she is known for being a harlot. For whatever reason, she fell into this lifestyle while living in Jericho. Yet, she had the inner desire to become more than she was. She had fallen, but she knew that with the Lord and His people, she could get up. The story is told in Joshua (Chapter 2-6). Interesting, she hid them, protected them, and then let them out of the house with a piece of cord. It was THE SAME type of instrument she used for their escape is the SAME that they used for her escape. By the way, Hebrew 11 lists her in the “Faith’s Hall of Fame.” Never forget, Jesus didn’t come into this world for the righteous, the good, or even the well; He came to call the sinner, the scandalous, & even the sick (in other words the fallen) to repentance.
b. The sad truth today is that many of us have difficulty admitting that we are a fallen people. To make it more personal, I have a problem admitting that I’m a fallen person. The timeless truth is that until we come to the understanding that we are sinful, scandalous in the eyes of God, and even sick, we will never ask God for help. Today, have you fallen into sin? Can you list sin that you have committed this week? If you don’t see any way out of your predicament, then Jesus came for you. You’re not a prostitute? Okay. But how about a sinner?
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3) HOPE FOR THE FAITHFUL – RUTH
a. Do we even remember the story of Ruth? The book which bears her name chronicles the entire story. She lost her father in law & then a few years later, as a young woman, she lost her husband. Then Naomi, her ‘mother in law’, encouraged her and her sister in law (Orpah) to leave. Orpah did leave, but Ruth’s statement is such a statement of commitment and faithfulness that it is often used at weddings. Because of Ruth’s faithfulness, Boaz had the opportunity to redeem her and the family line. This family tree is known as faith’s FAMILY LINE. Boaz and Ruth gave birth to OBED who fathered JESSE who fathered DAVID. It was her faithfulness that gave her a place in this genealogy.
b. HERE IS WHAT WE NEED TO SEE: Faithfulness is sometime seen taken for granted. We think it’s too easy. Yet if it was easy, why are more people faithful? Read the book of Ruth and see that it was hard, it required work, and a stick to it mentality. In the baby Jesus, God is there even for the faithful. Faithfulness always brings blessings.
4) HOPE FOR THE FOOLISH- BATHSHEBA –
a. At times we all make foolish decisions. Rarely does a week go by that I don’t talk to folk who are suffering the consequences of a foolish decision. This story is told in 2 Samuel 11. Bathsheba simply went out to take bath. Quite likely, she didn’t realize the King was not on the battlefield where he belonged, but was eyeing her from a distance. Yet, she did know decision that a secret rendezvous with King was foolish. Please don’t miss this; secret sin rarely remains secret. While sin can be forgiven, the consequences are not set aside. Neither the King nor she, quite likely, comprehended the ramifications of this one foolish act. It take no imagination to know that had King David ever thought that his one indiscretion (that’s what we call it today) was become the most used illustration in history, he would have covered his eyes and protected his heart. Had Bathsheba given any thought to it, she would have known that this was foolish at the highest level. At the risk of sounding like a mean spirited preacher. Although he is not the king of a country, he is the King of golf. Now, the sins of Tiger Woods has come to the forefront. He may be embarrassed and his home in trouble, but these women who have given themselves in a one way relationship will have their names and lives intruded on by the sin of their past for, quite likely, the rest of their lives.
b. To hear the name Monica Lewinski is to think of things which should be never be discussed in public, yet because of foolish decisions, the stigma is known.
c. You may have given yourself to your share of foolish decisions. Some may be as hurtful and sinful as Bathsheba, but the fact that she is listed in the genealogy of Jesus tells us that He came from, through, and for people like you. There is hope.
5) HOPE FOR THE FEARFUL – MARY
a. When the angel came to Mary with the message that “The Lord is with you” In Luke 1, she was “fearful,” “afraid,” or “troubled.” This was not a matter of her being afraid because of the wrong she had committed because she was morally pure and chase woman. But to think that an angel was calling her “Favored”, even “HIGLY FAVORED” in some translations? To get an idea of this experience for Mary, consider the difference in the message of the angel in the Greek and KJV. The words translation in the HCSB are translated ‘word for word’ from the Greek, however, translation is not an exact science. Rejoice, Joy, or Hail, is the greeting the angel used. The word “favored” means so much more than we understand. The Jewish Bible says, “Shalom” but it is not ‘peace’ at all, rather it is an expansion of the word ‘grace’. And not just any grace, but a special grace, special honor, and a special blessing. When the angel tagged these words with “The Lord is with you,” obviously the translators wanted to communicate the depth of this message so they added, “Blessed art you among women.” At this point, she did not know what she was in for, but she sensed God was in control. After hearing the angel’s message, her fear turned to faith, her doubt to desire, & her caution to certainty. See went to see Elizabeth & then sang the joyous Song of Mary. When God speaks & tell you to do something, don’t be afraid; find hope – no matter how hard. Jesus gives us hope!!
According to an old legend, a man became lost in his travels and wandered into a bed of quicksand. Confucius saw the man’s predicament and said, "It is evident that men should stay out of places such as this." Next, Buddha observed the situation and said, "Let that man’s plight be a lesson to the rest of the world." Then Mohammed came by and said to the sinking man, "Alas, it is the will of God." Finally, Jesus appeared. "Take my hand, brother," he said, "and I will save you."
Hope for you is what Christmas is all about.
