The Shocking Family Background Of Jesus

THE SHOCKING FAMILY BACKGROUND OF JESUS

Matt. 1:1-17

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. Why are Christmas trees bad at sewing? They always drop their needles!

2. What did the gingerbread man put on his bed? Cookie sheets.

3. How did the Jedi know what he was getting for Christmas? He could sense their presents.

4. How do Christmas trees get ready for a night out? They spruce up!

B. GROWING INFLUENCE OF GENEALOGIES

1. Genealogies have become a big thing in our society. Libraries across our nation now contain rooms dedicated to genealogical records. Huge internet sites are dedicated to the pursuit of researching genealogies.

2. I had a great uncle who traced our family tree back 14 generations. My son John Wesley became interested in our families’ past and sent some skin-scrapings to Ancestry.com. Then he got me to mail a sample in and they discovered that I am:

43% England/Western Europe

25% Scotland

16% Ireland

13% German

3% Wales (not the animal, the place)

It gives me some kind of idea of my origins. It DIDN’T tell me that I had any Chimpanzee in my background. Sorry Darwin!

3. When it comes to reading the genealogies in the Bible, it’s about as exciting as reading the dictionary! Most people probably think it’s okay to just skip over the genealogies.

4. But 2 Tim. 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” So tonight we’re covering the “begats” of Christmas.

5. Our KEY TEXT is Matt. 1:1-17, but we’re not going to read it! I’ll give you a thumbnail sketch in a minute.

6. So what is the importance of the Christmas genealogies?

I. IMPORTANCE OF JESUS’ GENEALOGY

A. ESTABLISHING JESUS’ IDENTITY

1. The genealogy of Jesus is crucial for establishing His identity as the Messiah. HOW?

2. It connects Him to significant figures in Jewish history, specifically Abraham and David. Why are these two important? Because God covenanted with both Abraham and David in perpetual, unconditional covenants.

a. Abraham – Genesis 17:1-22; sampling; “I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” Gen. 17:6-8

b. David – 2 Sam. 7:8-16; “I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom....13 I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your throne will be established forever.’” (vss. 12-13, 16)

c. The claim that the Jews forfeited these promises because they rejected Jesus is false because 1). the promises were unconditional, 2). later prophecies reaffirmed the earlier prophecies (Jer. 31:35-36), and 3). the promises were “everlasting” and “eternal” in scope.

3. Matthew's emphasis that Jesus is the "son of David," fulfills Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.

a. Of the Bible's 31,124 verses, 8,352 contains predictive material (27%). 81% of its prophecies have been documented as being fulfilled. The remaining 19% deal with the events yet future. God Almighty says, "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come" Isa. 46:10.

b. But the most significant area of prophecy was concerning Christ's first coming. Over 300 prophecies foretold great detail about Him: Born of a virgin (Is. 7:14; Lk.1:7); born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2; Lk. 2:4); move to Egypt (Hos. 11:1; Mt. 2:14-15); of tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10; Mt. 3:3); speak in parables (Ps. 78:2; Mt. 13:34); ride a donkey into Jerusalem (Zech. 9:9; Mt. 21); be rejected by the Jews (Is. 53:3; Jn. 1:11); betrayed by a friend (Ps. 41:9; Mt. 26:23); sold for 30 silver pieces (Zech. 11:2; Mt. 26:15); silent before accusers (Is. 53:7;Mk. 15:5); they cast lots for His robe (Ps. 22:18; Jn. 19:23); be crucified (Ps. 22:16); say “my God, why forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:1; Mt. 27:46); not one bone was broken (Ps. 34:20; Jn. 19:36); buried w/ rich (Is. 53:9; Mt. 27); Rise from the dead.

B. STRUCTURE OF THE GENEALOGY

1. Matthew organizes the genealogy into three sections of fourteen generations each:

a. From Abraham to David

b. From David to the Babylonian Exile

c. From the Exile to Jesus

2. This structure not only aids memorization but also highlights the continuity of God's plan through history.

C. WHO’S INCLUDED IN THE 3 PERIODS?

1. 14 GENERATIONS – ABRAHAM TO DAVID