The family tree...a new beginning.

My brother challenges me in the Word of God. Last year, we studied the book of Hebrews together. It was awesome! Once we finished, we prayed about the next book for 2010. The Holy Spirit led us to the book of Matthew.

Awe...the book of Matthew. Here is Matthew, a Levi, writing a Jewish book to a Jewish people about a Jewish Messiah - something they hoped and longed for. The Messiah was prophesied, anticipated and awaited by the people from Genesis on. Yet, I love how he sets the stage.

First of all, he stays true to his own Jewishness and simply does what he does best - be himself. Second, he begins to take a piece of life's present puzzle, along with a piece of Israel's past history, adding many future Jewish prophecies and fit them together. How? He did it one piece and chapter at a time.

Matthew was familiar and well-versed with the Tanach (Torah, Writings and Prophets). He begins telling the people how the Old Testament concealed is actually the New Testament revealed. So, he begins with the family tree of Jesus Christ by reintroducing the book of Moses - i.e. Genesis.

In Genesis chapter 1,2 - we learn of creation. In Genesis chapter 3 - we see the fall of man. In Genesis chapter 4 - we have the account and record of the murder of Abel. Then, we arrive to Genesis chapter 5 and we read the words - "This is the generation of Adam." Matthew begins revealing how the Old Testament is a book that deals with the generation of Adam - the first man. From Genesis to Malachi the Old Testament ends with a curse, "Lest I come and smite thee." Yet, Matthew begins a NEW book. In chapter 1, he writes "This is the generation of Christ."

Awe, do you see it? This is a new generation! Then, as we fast forward to the end of Revelation 22 we find the words "There will be no more curse." Matthew is referencing from the book of Moses how each testament and covenant compliments one another and fulfills one another. He is unveiling Christ and how He is made complete. So, here the writer begins Matthew chapter one with the GENESIS of the Messiah - vs. 17 - "There were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, another fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and yet another fourteen from the Babylonian exile to Christ."

Friend, as I continued to meditate on this I realized that I almost missed the history lesson of the family tree. This is not simply history in the making as I might nonchalantly read it. Matthew is saying, this is the genealogy regarding HIS STORY.

It is HIS STORY with history's common denominator and letter being "s." The "s" is representative and symbolic of our Savior found right in the middle of life. He is the before and after. It is just as the Word of God says in Revelation 1:8, "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." Here, just in these first 17 verses...Matthew reveals Christ as the past, the present and certainly He is the future.

How does that relate to you and I today? I think Matthew could be saying that if "Traci" looks for Christ deep enough...going past my nonchalantly...He is and can always be my new beginning. Life and history is about the Savior writing HIS STORY in the before and after of both our lives. He takes our past, present and future - one piece at a time - revealing the larger picture until the canvas is finally revealed.