Devotion 12620

 Matthew chapter one opens with the genealogy of Jesus and concludes with an angel appearing to Joseph to tell him of the birth of Jesus to Mary, the virgin, as fulfillment of the event foretold in Isaiah, "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call him Immanuel (God with us)." (v 23)

Pastor Dan noted yesterday of the family that Jesus came from, and how families are depicted in our society and in scripture. Dan shared Christmas stories from his own family with us, traditions born intentionally, to pass down to new generations.  That's the image we want for Christmas, but I also thought of Robert Earl Keen's song about Christmas, "Merry Christmas from the Family," that paints an accurate picture of Christmas for many as well.  Drinking, smoking, running to the store for stuff, inane banter about life... it's all there.

Now, at this point, you may draw a line and say, "That's not really appropriate for Christmas time in a devotion." Oh really? Dan pointed out the complete dysfunction in our society in families that is reflected in scripture from the fall of man forward. 

That Jesus, our savior and "God with us," came from the family tree that He did is amazing, as noted by a recent devotion from the Lutheran Hour's Kari Vo.  We see murderers, liars, adulterers, and a host of other sinners blotting the lineage for Christ. Abraham and his intent on taking on God's vision himself through his maidservant.  David...  You know his story.  Solomon, born from an illicit affair.  

Yet God saw fit to unfold His plan in time for Mary to bear His Son to come and save us from sinners like ourselves. We know our sins, our fall from grace, and yet we see God using people just like us to deliver us a savior, Christ the Lord.  At Christmas, perhaps we should focus on the blessings from God through His Son's life on earth.  Maybe really explore the Christmas story with our families.  Our prayer is that Christmas is more than just gifts and presents, and that we take on traditions that lift the Christmas story to the point that we know of God's amazing grace given to us.