Thursday 11th December
Read Matthew 1:1-2
“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,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.” (NIVUK)
Matthew deliberately links Jesus with Abraham. The obvious reason for this is to indicate that Jesus is an Israelite, as the first three generations make clear. The second reason is cleverly woven through the genealogy in a number of ways we will explore over the next few days.
The first of those reasons is to make clear that Jesus is the One through whom the blessings promised to Abraham will flow. First to Israel and then to the nations. As we approach the time Christians traditionally remember the arrival of Jesus we do well to remember the hope the season brings is grounded in God’s promises to rescue and restore the world through Abraham. Blessings to all.
