I have never really sat down to dig into my family tree.  Just thinking of the word “genealogy” tends to make my head hurt.

But, over the last several years, my brother has developed a keen interest in our heritage and has uncovered some insightful things.  For me, his discovery of our Irish and English cultural roots hasn’t compared, though, to some of the personal stories he’s unearthed.

It’s been like opening a historical closest and watching a load of skeletons fall out.  From two-timing cheats to underground addicts to usurpers against religious rule, I have ancestors that have done everything from being the cause of small-town scandals to landing themselves in an “outcast’s grave” because of their deeds.

I know I’m not alone.  All of us have family trees knotted with dysfunction and complications.

Including Jesus.

Matthew chapter 1 breaks down the lineage of Jesus, beginning with Abraham.  Woven within the fabric of the Savior of the world’s ancestry are some key figures that bring some very shady pieces to the table.

Tamar is one of the first.  Genesis 38 gives us the full details of her very complicated story.  Suffice it to say, it involves deception, prostitution, and a few other sordid highlights.

Further down Jesus’s family tree, you’ll find Rahab (a harlot), David (an adulterer, murderer, and liar), and Uzziah (an arrogant ruler who openly mocked God).

The culmination of our Savior’s lineage brings us to Mary, an unwed teenager who gave birth to Him in a dirty animal stable.

So, why would God use such unlikely characters connected throughout history to pave the way for His Son to come to earth? 

Because Jesus’s family tree is a representation of our own.  With all the dark twists and turns, it reveals a remarkable truth that God can, will, and does use unlikely people in His divine story.

It also serves as a critical reminder that we can’t look at anyone’s life and write them off. 

All of us are invited to participate in God’s story.  All of us are equally welcome to step up and receive His rich love and abundant promises that turn the darkness of our complicated lives into channels of His grace.

What a refreshing thing to realize – if God could use all of those unlikely people that played a part in Jesus’s lineage, He can absolutely use me!

We were all created for purpose and reasons that weave into God’s glorious plan and story for humanity. 

How can we play a vital role in paving the way for future generations after us?  According to Jesus, it’s pretty simple: “Love the Lord…with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind…and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

Until next time, Grace and Glory!