Line

Parents. Everybody’s got ‘em.

Some people have really got ‘em.

Jay Bakker, for instance.

Does that name ring a bell?

His parents’ first names might. They’re Jim and Tammy Faye.

Oh……that Bakker.

Jay, their only son, was 11 years old when his parents’ televangelism empire, “The PTL Club,” began to crumble. Allegations of his father’s affair turned into eventual criminal charges of fraud.

An article in today’s AJC details the new reality show based on the last year of Jay’s life, “One Punk Under God,” that began airing on the Sundance channel last night.

Jay has grown up and entered the ministry in his own right….and in his own way.

He founded Atlanta’s “Revolution,” and has since moved on to begin another Revolution ministry in Brooklyn, New York.

Further reading this morning uncovered a sad article about another famous Christian family. Apparently, the Grahams are embroiled in a private (now becoming public) disagreement over the final resting place for Billy and Ruth.

Kids. What’re you gonna do?

If even the Grahams can see their family descend into feud and struggle, is there a lot of hope for the rest of us?

Well, Christmas says there is.

Here’s what I mean: have you ever taken a good look at the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel? Maybe not --- genealogies don’t tend to be the most exhilarating of all scriptural passages. The secret is you’ve got to read close, and a little between the lines.

Why would Matthew kick off his story of Jesus in such a “compelling” way?

Perez, Zerah, Hezron, Aram, Aminadab, Nahshon, Boaz, Obed, Abijah, Asaph, Joram, Salathiel, Eliud, and etc., and etc., and etc.

I wish you could see that sentence as I’ve written it in Microsoft Word. It’s got more red underlining than my freshman English essays. My computer says those names do not compute.

So, what is the deal, anyway?

The deal is Matthew’s need to draw us an important picture of Jesus’ identity.

Everybody has parents. And kids, what’re you gonna do?

There are definitely some “characters,” several of the “ill repute” variety, in that historical parade. Let’s just say that there are a lot more folks on the “naughty” list than the “nice” one in Matthew’s Christmas story.

And people --- that’s Jesus’ family we’re talking about.

Prophecy said that the messiah would descend from the line of David.

That’s exactly what Jesus did, and Matthew illustrates, through “Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the messiah” (Matthew 1:16).

Really fascinating is that Matthew, while mentioning each man in the line of fathers, mentions only five women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, “the wife of Uriah,” and Mary.

Each of those women are mentioned prominently in other scripture, and the stories would make most daytime soap writers blush with embarrassment.

The, “wife of Uriah?” She could also be known as “mistress of David.” Or even, “cheater with David.” Her husband was intentionally left to be killed in battle on her new lover’s order.

Those are Jesus’ great, great, great…you get the idea…grandparents.

So…what is Matthew telling us?

Whatever his intention, what I gather is that God doesn’t mind a mess. Redemption is always possible. Everyone, even Jesus, falls somewhere in a line of those who’ve gone before and those who follow after. Somewhere in the middle of the line, when the world would least expect it…God chooses to do his work.

That’s incarnation. That’s inherently Christian. That’s the good news.

I hope this blog finds you this day in the middle of your work, in the middle of your week, in the middle of your shopping, parenting, playing, loving and living.

The middle….the mess….that’s where the good stuff lives.

May something transformational, even incarnational, happen for us today.

Immanuel. God with us. Amazing, and true.

Grace & Peace,
Adam

LIFE AT SOTH:

We're coming down to the end of 2006 and entering a season of wonderful Christmas celebrations. Please make plans to join us on December 20, 2006 at 6:30 pm for our second annual "Blue Christmas" worship celebration. This time of worship is very special for those who want to remember those they miss during this season, and we'll focus on the hope that Christmas offers all in our community who may be blue during these days.

Christmas Eve candlelight and communion: 5 and 7 pm, with childcare available at both services.

One worship service only, Sunday morning December 24th, and Sunday, December 31: 10 AM.

New Worship Schedule begins January 7 --- 9 AM and 11 AM with Sunday school for kids and adults, 10:15.