Awkward Christmas – Jesus is related to who?
What is unique about Jesus’ Genealogy – The emphasis that Matthew places on it
Matthew goes through a “who’s who” list of people!
Matthew emphasizes four women:
- Tamar
- Rahab
- Ruth
- Abigail
Matthew 9:9-13 “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
If Jesus were to host a Christmas day gathering, who would be there?
Jesus had a different perspective
Our perspective:
- Be comfortable
- Hang out with those we like
Jesus’ perspective:
- Spiritual doctor
- Life coach
- Savior of the broken
Matthew 12:46-50 “While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
It is impossible to be Christ like while ignoring the broken and less fortunate!
Luke 6:32-35 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.”
Here is how most of us are wired:
- We hang out with people that are fun
- We hang out with people that make us look good
- We hang out with like minded folks
- We hang out with people with similar common interest
- We hang out with people we feel like we can trust
Luke 14:12-14 “Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
