A King For All
Notes
Transcript
Pray 1
It was tradition on my mum’s side of the family to give the eldest boy in each generation the middle name of Everest after our ancestor Sir George Everest - the General Surveyor of India in the early 1800’s.
His calculations were used to finally confirm Peak 15 (as it was known - an exotic name) to be the highest mountain in the world in 1856 -
Apparently he didn’t want it named after himself and pushed for a local name to be used - but it was named after him in his honour none the less shortly before he died.
Of course, having the middle name these days would be one of great prestige and honour - or - perhaps would just worry people you were trying to sell them double glazing.
Ancestry may be interesting or it may give us the odd claim to fame - but for the average Joe in Britain - it doesn’t often mean too much.
But the ancestry for a King or Queen -
well that carries a whole different level of importance and meaning.
It determines who is right to sit on the throne,
what sort of kingdom they stand for,
it shows by their history - who might be accepted or rejected within such a kingdom.
It was this sort of discussion around the dining table at our house a couple of months back (we don’t normally ahve such high brow converstaions - don’t worry),
but it was during such a converstaion that Zeke - agaed 10 - quite genuinly and innocnetly asked...
“Am I in line to the throne?”
We did what you all are doing - we laughed - perhaps he still wonders if he is - poor kid.
And so As Matthew, the long time friend and follower of Jesus, begins his historical account and biogrpahy about the life and teaching of Jesus,
He starts with a genealogy to demonstrate evidence for Jesus as the Messiah - the pormised King of Isreal.
But as was common amongst biographers of this time,
this genealogy tells us more of a story, than just a family tree.
This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
The Long awaited One in the line of King David of old.
A son even of Abraham - the Most Jewish of Jews - the Father of all Israel.
From whom the 12 tribes of Israel descend.
And then What Matthew gives us is 3 lists of 14 names, as v 17 points out.
Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
This is not a full or exhaustive genealogy as we would think of one.
There is a fuller genealogy in Luke 3
And in the OT records.
The word he uses that we translate ‘genealogy’ in v1 - can actually simply mean ‘origion’.
These ‘origion’ accounts were used by ancient biographers to
help us understand what sort of person they were writting about.,
help us make sense of his ways or behaviours in life.
- In a sense it will gives credibility to the life of Jesus.
it communicates, purpose and mission and character as well as just family tree.
For example, the 3 blocks of 14 names probably meant something to the early Jewish readers, although we’re not sure about it today.
But there is still plenty we can learn.
It’s interesting to see a modern resurgence in wanting to know familiy trees and even dna testing to determin your ancestory.
People are looking for a sense of meaning and who they are,
and what they are about.
And so with Jesus,
Matthew wants us to see the true power behind His origin story.
what sort of kingdom has Jesus come to reigh over as King.
What sort of Messiah is he?
It’s a good place to begin as we anticipate celbrating the Birth fo Jesus at Christmas again this year.
So,
v1 again -
This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Matthew wrote this book for a Jewish audience -
so there is to be no mistake - he needs them to know -
Jesus is the one they have been waiting for,
He is a king in the royal line from the great King David of ancient Israel.
For centuries they have anticipated the anointed one in David’s royal line.
It had been so long many had given up hope.
But the Psalms and OT are full of anointed one, or messianic anticipation,
EG - a prophesie to king David in 2 Samuel shows it clearly:
Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ ”
I will establish his line forever,
his throne as long as the heavens endure.
Interestingly there was no debate in the first century
about Jesus being in this Royal line,
Both jewish and secular historians of the time - agree - he is in the family line.
it explains why the genealogy didn’t need to be complete in detail, as there wasn’t a debate anyway.
Records were well kept and understood.
Even the differences between Luke’s genealogy and Matthews don’t need to concern. So good were the ancient records that branches of ancestory could be traced and interlaced.
They both reach the same conclusion,
and differences are far from suspicious -
they actually confirm the amount of detail that was available -
and that 2 lightly different branches could be used to show Jesus’ connection to David.
ONe likely shows us his direct blood line, the other here in Matthew - the Royal throne line - as it would have been passed on if there was still a king.
Jesus was born is in the royal line of King David.
Abraham is important though to - the Patriach of the ISraelite nation.
- and it was through Abraham that God promised to ultimately bless all God’s people.
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
With a promise like that from God in their history,
and a King promised in the line of David who would rule,
it doesn’t take a genius to be anticipating a Messiah - an annointed King in the line of David,
to come and restore the promised blessings from God given to Abraham - through the line of King david.
Could Jesus be the one to bless the world!?
To rule God’s kingdom?
It’s quite an introduction to the origin of Jesus!
And as the Jews - and even us depending on how well we know our OT’s,
as we read through some of the names in his origin strory -
our memories and hearts are stirred.
v2 Abraham - the man of great faith - obedient and faithful
I remember Jacob,
father of the 12 tribes of Israel,
Judah and his brothers - the great 12 tribes born to Jacob
Jospeh was one of the brothers - the one who grew to be second only to Pharoe in Egypt
- who prepare Egypt and the surrounding nations for famine - and saved countless people including Israel from starvation.
Or what of Boaz, v5 -
the great kinsmen - noble and honest,
taking care of Ruth and Naomi having been widowed.
Leaving extra grain for Ruth to Gather,
and ultimately taking her as his wife - giving her hope.
And King David of course in v6,
endless accounts of both his bravery and triumphs in battle,
as well as his faithfulness to God.
Who can forget his defeat of Goliath the Philistine giant,
or the time he spared the life of his predecessor King Saul in the cave, - despite Saul being bent on killing David - yet he chose the way of righteousness,
or the endless military campaign's he led and won
How the nations of Israel prospered and developed under his reign.
And that’s before we begin to speak of his son Solomon in v6.
Who was dressed in finer linen and style than even todays best Parisian designer could conjure up.
He was wiser than any person before him in his justice and rule,
The people prospered and celebrate his justice and wisdom.
And of course he built God the great temple!
From Solomon all the way down to Joconiah in v11 we see pages from the book of Chronicles come back to life,
and of course the exile to Babylon saw the end to the kingly reign of Israel in v11
The crown had gone.
pause -
But the royal line had not. - has the king returned!?
Eventually the exile to foreign Babylon was over and many returned to Jerusalem and Israel.
And the names in v 13-15 don’t have any meaning to us today,
their stories have been lost,
but undoubtedly there was more meaning and memory of tales from them 2000 years ago - when Matthew wrote this.
But perhaps to some extent this is the point.
The first 14 names in v2-6 show us the magnificent set-up and establishment of God’s people and the nation from Abraham.
Culminating in the greatest days of blessing under King David.
But from Solomon onwards,
things begin to give way to the fallen wickedness of mankind.
Israel spits into 2 kingdoms,
kings are sometimes good, but often bad,
and then after the exile to babylon,
hope is gone,
The king is gone!
But has the King returned?
Perhasp this is why there are 14 names in each block,
as if to say - it is time,
we are due something significant now..
and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
No question then.
Jesus fulfils the promises of the OT.
He is in the royal line of King David - uncontested at the time.
He represents the great kings of old - most especially David.
He is the answer to centuries without a king.
And he is in the line of Abraham.
A son of Abraham.
God’s promises of blessing could well be fulfilled in the man Jesus.
It is quite a family line.
Quite a lineage to live up to
Quite a list of prophesies and promises to fulfil.
Quite a kingdom of people to restore who share that same heritage.
It is a record of origin that makes him a King beyond comparison,
High and lifted up.
Mighty and strong.
If he is truly is the Messiah - come to bless God’s people and save them.
nothing will stop him.
You can imagine the pride of the Jews,
Our king is here.
Those who are worthy in heritage,
and race and righteousness are about to be freed from worldly oppression.
From Roman Rule at the time,
our king is back.
And I think we sometimes think like this as well.
Jesus has come for the nice people.
the good people,
those with the right heritage.
Middle class, good with money,
never really been off the rails.
A perfect Christmas tree,
presents galore,
good jobs,
badly behaved kids,
and a nice house.
People who behave well,
who are free from guilt,
who aren’t too sinful,
who don’t struggle, pubilically at least, with temptations,
lust, or addictions, or gossip.
Who don’t have skeletons in their cupboards.
or consciences that feel unworthy of God.
Even if you don’t think like this -
i recon many of our friends and family who aren’t Christians -
simply think God wouldn’t want anything to do with them.
Look at his earthly origons - let alone his heavenly ones.
Even if you convinced me that Jesus was the promised Messiah of the OT.
Even if the historical evidence held up - which it does,
Jesus this great king of the universe wouldn’t want me.
I’m not a Jew,
I’m not ‘good’ enough on the inside - even if outwardly I look the part.
Jesus is here for the proud and the pious.
Well Matthew knew this prevalent thought was amoung the Jews of which he was one.
You don’t need to read much about the Pharisees to know this was their thinking.
But take another look at this origin story says Matthew.
Think Jesus isn’t interested in a sinner,
or a lost man or woman like you?
v2 -
Jacob was a deceiver - who stole the birthright from his brother by dressing like him and fooling his dying Father.
v3 - Judah’s twin boys listed were born to him having slept with Tamar who he thought was a prostitue (not a good start), but was actually his daughter-in-law pretending to be a prostitute to sleep with him! (that look a turn!)
Ruth in v5, the mother of Obed - was a gracious woman, but in her case she was not even an Israelite
She was a moabite woman - a foreigner.
Of the wrong race and blood surely!
It was also very usual to include women in these origin accounts - they are there to show us something.
Then Rahab is mentioned - an actual prostitute this time and a foreigner!
The next women mentioned is not mentioned by name - but by the situation - as if Matthew could not be any clearer.
and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
David had abused his position of power to sleep
with another mans (uriah’s) wife, committing adultery
she became pregnant, so David then had Uriah killed,
and it is that child - Solomon who took the throne!
Why would Matthew make it this explicit - he could have left it out.
Rehoboam v7 was a wicked king according to Chronicles, as was his son Abijah
And why bring such attention to the exile to Babylon - his whole 14 structure highlights the exile!
The greatest disgrace upon the people of God in the OT.
Due to their constant and deliberate sin and rejection of God,
God eventually could accept no more - so allowed the Babylonnians to invade Jeruslam twice - the second time destroying it,
and the people to be removed from the promised land and exiled!
and so on,, until v16 again
slow
and another woman is mentioned:
and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
Carefully worded to be very different from the other women mentioned - Joseph is not described as the father of Jesus,
but rather the husband of Mary - the mother of Jesus.
We find out in the next verses that Mary became pregnant by the Holy Spirit - the work of God.
A women elevated above any cultural oppression of the time - to be seen as the mother of the Messiah.
Jesus’ origin is one of
adulterers, prostitiues, decieevrs, and murderers.
It is also full of foreigners,
full of the lowley and weak who had no place in royalty.
Full of sinful and rebellious kings.
You know what,
The origon story of Jesus does not suggest he has come for the elite or the proud of the pious!
He has come for you and me.
Good or Evil - God’s grace runs through - the Messiah has come - and all are welcome.
Whatever your background,
whatever you mental state,
whatever you guilt,
whatever your race.
Whatever your social status
As the rest of Matthew points out,
Jesus is the Messiah for all,
if not particularity for the lowly and weak, the sinful and lost.
Jesus brings the blessings promised to Abraham to the world.
Christmas is a time to remember that we don’t need to be right for Jesus,
Jesus is right for us.
In the origin story of Jesus - we can see both that he is the one true King who rules our world,
and that he is the one Messiah who has come for you and me.
however weak we are, and wherever we are from.
they are themes through the rest of Matthew’s book.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus is Lord and saviour,
Your king - who came to earth to make you right again with God - despite our sin,
then hear his story and come to him in,
whoever you are and wherever you are from.
Let me pray a prayer fo repentance and praise now:
Pray 1