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“Buried in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew chapter one is a gospel treasure. That treasure is five women. Their inclusion in the list is notable because it’s a patrilineal genealogy — a record of fathers and sons. Their inclusion is also notable because they were among the most notorious women in biblical history.

The first mentioned is Tamar (Matthew 1:3). Tamar entered the royal bloodline of the Messiah by disguising herself as a prostitute and seducing her father-in-law, Judah, so he would make her pregnant. Honestly, Judah had it coming because he had denied her justice, but it was an ugly affair all around (see Genesis 38).” ~ Christmas Bloodline: Notorious Women in Jesus’s Family by Jon Bloom

It wasn’t what you expected, was it?

These first few passages we’ve studied on {The Road to Christmas}… they don’t line up with the lights, glitter, peace and wonder that we’ve neatly packaged into our definition of Christmas.

But stay with me here… it’s a necessary road.

Every bit of this dark, messy, uncomfortable, embarrassing, scandalous journey is included in the Bible for a specific purpose. The tension, the unrest, the building of the story and the anticipation of the rescue…

This is the journey that highlights our great need.

This is the path that makes salvation that much more longed-for.

This is the road that makes the arrival of the babe in the manger that much more personal.

{The Road to Christmas} is dark and sin-filled in the waiting, but it’s a road that leads to grace.

God has ordained that Satan have a long leash with God holding on to the leash because he knows that when we walk in and out of those temptations, struggling with both the physical effects that they bring and the moral effects that they bring, more of God’s glory will shine. ~ John Piper

Tamar’s story was one of rejection and disgrace. Her family history was tainted, and her personal reputation paid the price over and over again. It must have felt like prison with no way out – this ugly web of shame that Tamar found herself tangled up in while she waited for deliverance. Yet along that dark road, Tamar became the mother of Perez, and it was from his line that King David – and eventually Jesus – was born. This unlikely Gentile woman who lived for years in darkness became a crucial piece in the lineage of Christ (Matt. 1)… the lineage of grace.

The genealogy of Jesus Christ is immeasurably more than a list of ancient names; it is even more than a list of Jesus’ human forebears. It is a beautiful testimony to God’s grace and to the ministry of His Son, Jesus Christ, the friend of sinners, who “did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matt. 9:13). If He has called sinners by grace to be His forefathers, should we be surprised when He calls them by grace to be His descendants? The King presented here is truly the King of grace! ~ John MacArthur

Sweet, amazing grace.

Because on {The Road to Christmas} no one is righteous… not even one (Romans 3:10). But grace.

Maybe you can relate with Tamar today:

Do you find yourself constantly stuck in a web of sin that is choking the life right out of you? There’s new life in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

Does your family have a long history of dysfunction? Jesus can break those chains (Gal. 5:1).

Has your life been filled with all kinds of unexpected twists, turns and misfortunes? God specializes in making crooked paths straight (Prov. 3:6).

Have you walked a hard road filled with darkness? That’s why the Savior came (John 10:10).

Grace came down to a humble stable, so that you and I might live. Light in the darkness. HOPE for the world. Praise God, there is a road that leads to grace… and grace shines brighter.

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it.

~ John 1:4-5

At His feet,

 

*LET’S TALK: On {The Road to Christmas}, let’s offer up praise to our great God for his amazing grace! Share your thoughts and prayers of gratitude in the comment section today…

WhitneyD

WhitneyD

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