This is YOUR Savior: A Christmas Message! |

Christmas can be a difficult time. It’s often at Christmastime when family dysfunction rears its ugly head. So many people struggle rather than enjoy this time.

So, I wanted to bring this message to you today as an encouragement and a hope.

There are two genealogies listed in the gospels – in Matthew and in Luke. When we study the Bible, we often overlook these lists. But today, I want to bring one of them before your attention. We will look at Matthew’s account.

Take in mind that Jesus came from this line. This is Jesus’ FAMILY TREE!

In Matthew’s account (Matthew 1:1-16), there are four names I would like to examine. Follow me as I give you a brief history lesson on each of these names:

Tamar: Her story begins with Judah (the brother of Joseph). Yes, he was part of the conspiracy to sell his brother to the caravan heading to Egypt. Tamar was the wife of Judah’s oldest son. This account is found in Genesis 38. The Bible tells us that Tamar’s husband was wicked and God killed him. So, her father-in-law passed her onto to his next son. He too did evil in God’s eyes and so he was killed. Judah then sent her home to live with her father and promised he would send for her when his youngest son was of age. But he never did.

Tamar was upset. She wanted to carry on the family name, so she concocted a devious scheme. She disguised herself as a prostitute and when Judah was coming back from the harvest, she lured him until he slept with her. You have to read the whole passage to get all the juicy details. Tamar became pregnant with her father-in-law’s baby. Judah was going to have her killed until he found out it was her.

A story made for a soap opera, don’t you agree?

Rahab: Rahab ran a house of prostitution in Jericho, the evil city that was to be conquered by the Israelites. She believed that God would destroy the city just as He said. So, when the Israelite spies arrived in town, she hid them on her roof and helped them escape before they were caught. She asked the spies to remember her when the city crumbled. Because of her belief in God and her courage in hiding the spies, God saved her and gave her a place in His family.

Ruth: Ruth was a foreigner who married into an Israelite family. Ruth proved her loyalty and devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi and remained faithful to the God of the Israelites. Ruth became an integral part of God’s redemptive plan.

BTW… you do not want to miss our upcoming ONLINE Bible study on Ruth. It’s FREE and you can sign up here…

Bathsheba (the wife of Uriah): Matthew’s account doesn’t name her by name, but gives her the title “the wife of Uriah.” We know her as Bathsheba. She was a young wife married to a loyal man. King David lusted after her, slept with her, and she became pregnant. To cover his sin, he had her husband killed. But it was found out and he married her before their son, Solomon, was born.

These women are listed in the line Jesus came from. This is a family tree filled with deceit, lust, deception, hypocrisy, abuse, wickedness, sin, addiction, shame, immorality, discord, strife, and rivalry. It’s a family tree that’s broken, in disarray, and full of turmoil. It’s a family tree that’s absolutely a MESS.

Did you know that Jesus chose this line to come from?

Really? Why would He do that?

Let’s just say, Because this is YOUR Savior!

He’s a Savior that’s faithful!
He’s a Savior that heals the broken!
He’s a Savior that is BIGGER than the dysfunction of our family tree!
He’s a Savior who understands our weaknesses!
He’s a Savior who forgives and restores!
He’s a Savior who accepts us no matter what!
He’s a Savior who came to this earth, lived a humble life, and died to restore us back to Him!
He’s a Savior who came to be with us (His name is Emmanuel)!

So, let me remind you that there are NO perfect families. Every family has dysfunction.

Let me encourage you this Christmas season…

Let your light shine for Jesus
Don’t lose hope
Keep your anchor secure in Jesus
Keep praying and trusting
Don’t walk in guilt

Here are a few verses we can cling to…

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.
Isaiah 61:1

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.
Proverbs 22:6

But now this is what the Lord says: “Do not weep any longer, for I will reward you,” says the Lord.
“Your children will come back to you from the distant land of the enemy. There is hope for your future,” says the Lord. “Your children will come again to their own land.
Jeremiah 31:16-17