Who doesn't have a "crazy aunt Gladys" in their family lineage? The family either tells funny stories about her all the time or they never mention her at all - the two extremes of dealing with what makes us uncomfortable. If we were to search through our ancestors, I imagine all of us would come up with some unsavory or embarrassing character.
Jesus had a number of characters in his family history. His lineage was a known fact. Jewish people were expert at tracking their ancestry back to the twelve sons of Jacob. Jesus was of the tribe of Judah (son of Jacob) which meant that one of his ancestors was King David, also of the tribe of Judah. David wasn't a "crazy aunt Gladys" but he wasn't an example of complete moral uprightness either. As an ancestor, even though he was one of the great kings of Israel, he was somewhat of a mixed bag. Yet it would be prophesied that the Messiah would come from the line of King David, and so it was.
If we choose to become adopted sons and daughters of God, to join the line of King David, then we have Jesus in our heritage who was both King of Kings and charged with being a threat to the state - someone often called a terrorist today. He was given the death penalty for his "crimes" and executed. He is someone we might not be proud to claim as one of ancestors, like "crazy aunt Gladys."
For Reflection: See Matthew 1:1-8; 9:27, Revelation 5:5, 22:16, Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-3; Jeremiah 23:5-6. Jesus' background was both illustrious and imperfect. Yet he did not put on airs or let it keep him from accomplishing his mission from God. Am I letting my background, my history, keep me from doing God's will?
Let us pray. Jesus, you are the Son of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Son of David and Bathsheba. Although descended from a king, you did not gloat. Although also Son of God, you did not hold yourself back from the cross. You experienced the highs and lows of human life and came out victorious on the other side. Hail, King Jesus!
Jesus had a number of characters in his family history. His lineage was a known fact. Jewish people were expert at tracking their ancestry back to the twelve sons of Jacob. Jesus was of the tribe of Judah (son of Jacob) which meant that one of his ancestors was King David, also of the tribe of Judah. David wasn't a "crazy aunt Gladys" but he wasn't an example of complete moral uprightness either. As an ancestor, even though he was one of the great kings of Israel, he was somewhat of a mixed bag. Yet it would be prophesied that the Messiah would come from the line of King David, and so it was.
If we choose to become adopted sons and daughters of God, to join the line of King David, then we have Jesus in our heritage who was both King of Kings and charged with being a threat to the state - someone often called a terrorist today. He was given the death penalty for his "crimes" and executed. He is someone we might not be proud to claim as one of ancestors, like "crazy aunt Gladys."
For Reflection: See Matthew 1:1-8; 9:27, Revelation 5:5, 22:16, Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-3; Jeremiah 23:5-6. Jesus' background was both illustrious and imperfect. Yet he did not put on airs or let it keep him from accomplishing his mission from God. Am I letting my background, my history, keep me from doing God's will?
Let us pray. Jesus, you are the Son of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Son of David and Bathsheba. Although descended from a king, you did not gloat. Although also Son of God, you did not hold yourself back from the cross. You experienced the highs and lows of human life and came out victorious on the other side. Hail, King Jesus!
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