The Christmas Tree: Christmas Labels - Joshua 2

The Christmas story punctuates God's amazing grace on so many levels, but maybe the most powerful takeaways are the revelations within its backstory. Some of the most embarrassing episodes from Israel's past just so happen to involve some of the ancestors of Jesus. It would make sense that these stories be buried and forgotten, but no - Matthew highlights them as he sets up his Gospel. As someone who had been scorned by society for his past, Matthew relished in being chosen to tell the story of Jesus. Perhaps what delighted him the most was to be able to remind people that Jesus came from a long line of sinners. God isn't embarrassed or ashamed to include any of us in His family. Our backstories simply make us prime candidates to experience the salvation that Jesus came to bring.