The Glory of Christmas

Thesis: Jesus, in his humanity, had a family tree; and in this tree, we can clearly see God's glory and grace. We see God's Grace, Sovereignty and Love in the people He chose to be related to:

I. GRACE

• Tamar - immoral Canaanite adulterer
  • Christ line (with Judah gave Perez)
  • All of us needs grace (1 Corinthians 6:11)
• Rahab - Gentile prostitute
  • Christ line (with Salmon gave Boaz)
  • She came to faith in God (Joshua 2:11)
• Manasseh/Amon - wickedly evil kings
  • Manasseh erected pagan altars
  • Amon pagan worshiper like dad Manasseh
  • Both killed/sacrificed children
  • Christ attached himself to sin in family
    tree

II. SOVEREIGNTY

• God planned Jesus from eternity - no plan B
• genealogy shows all kinds of sinners, no one
  beyond grace
• Line shows contrast with sinful humanity and
  Christ as perfect Prophet, Priest and King.
• Galatians 4:4 - Christ came at designed time

III. LOVE

• v.16 reminds us of God's promise to lovingly
  save us right after sin entered world
  (Genesis 3:15)
• Of course, John 3:16
• willingly dying to atone for sins like those of
  persons in genealogy

CONCLUSION: Your sins are not beyond the reach of God's grace, love and sovereign ability to deal with even the most evil of deeds.