Matthew 1:1-18

1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob,
strike one

Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
strike two
3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron,
strike three
Hezron the father of Ram,
4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
strike four

Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of King David.
strike five - with the Prophet Samuel.

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
strike six
7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
strike seven
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
ok unstrike seven
Abijah the father of Asa,
8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
strike seven

9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz,
strike eight - plans to melt down the Temple for a client state existence.
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
unstrike eight - Wow Hezekiah!

10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Strike 9 poor parenting Hezekiah

Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,
Unstrike one for Josiah had to clean out to discover there was a set of Papyrus called the Bible.


11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
Strike 10 Josiah was prophetically warned and chose not to listen and died.

12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, 
Strike 11
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud,
15 Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
17 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.

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.

This Family of Jesus - has definitely had it's licks.






I think the most shocking part is this:

Mary loaded on a donkey, headed 70 miles, 110 Kilometers - leaving her father's house.
Giving birth because "no room" but in a stable

- is

Mary of Heli. Heli's daughter. Not Joseph's wife.

God is God. God the Almighty. Alpha and Omega. Maker of Heaven and earth.

To the left of God's son.. donkeys and chickens and goats.

Beside Jesus - Mary - unwed.

Next to Mary - who is that man? Oh, that's the betrothed guy.


Hey.

why?



Romans 8.

Those who seek - find the answer.





Abba, Our Father, God Who Loves me and you,

What then shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against us?

You did not spare Your own Son but gave Him up for us all,
You will graciously give us all things

Who are we to examine Mary, Mother of God? Shall we bring any charge against God's elect?

It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

When we pray these difficult things with You, Father God. The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

You, who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.


Those whom You foreknew, You also predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus.

We trust You, Father God, those whom You predestined You also called, and those whom You called You also justified, and those whom You justify, You will glorify.

Ancient of Days, Father of the Fatherless. Alpha and Omega. God Everlasting. Jesus Triumphant - for our cares, for our Loved Ones. Perfect God.

When all is a mess, when all are not Justifiable. When we feel sunken. When we feel lost. When no one can fix this. 

What Isaiah saw.

Isaiah 1
17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. 18"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. 19 "If you consent and obey, You will eat the good of the land."

Amen in Jesus.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †