Call Him Messiah | Dr. David Jeremiah | Matthew 1:1-17
Call Him Messiah | Dr. David Jeremiah | Matthew 1:1-17
In Matthew 2:16, we read about King Herod’s fury when he realized he had been outwitted by the wise men. Enraged, he ordered the massacre of all male children in Bethlehem and its surrounding regions, aged two and under, based on the timeline given by the Magi. Yet, the sovereign hand of God intervened, guiding Joseph to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt, preserving the life of the Messiah.
Genealogy, a multibillion-dollar industry, has spawned countless websites, television shows, books, and even over-the-counter DNA ancestry kits. As one person humorously remarked, “I trace my family tree to know who to blame!” Indeed, every family tree has its quirks, and the genealogy of Jesus is no exception.
A Family Tree Unlike Any Other
The Bible opens the New Testament with the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:1:
“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
Matthew begins his gospel with a 17-verse genealogy, tracing 42 generations over 2,000 years to establish Jesus’ earthly lineage. This record includes an eclectic mix of individuals—spies, foreigners, kings, paupers, prostitutes, and military heroes. Unlike the polished genealogies of ancient times, Matthew includes the raw and imperfect stories of everyday people, demonstrating God’s power to work through them to fulfill His divine plan.
The Long Wait for the Messiah
Between the end of the Old Testament (Malachi) and the beginning of the New Testament (Matthew), there were 400 years of silence. During this time, no prophet spoke on God’s behalf. Then, Matthew opens with a genealogy—a surprising choice for announcing the Messiah.
Jesus Christ, whose name means “Jesus the Anointed One,” was not rejected because of His name but because of His claim to be the long-awaited Messiah. The Old Testament is filled with hundreds of prophecies about the coming of this Messiah. Some of the most remarkable prophecies concerning Jesus’ birth include:
- Isaiah: Predicted He would be born of a virgin and called Emmanuel.
- Micah: Foretold His birthplace as Bethlehem.
- Jeremiah: Prophesied the massacre of infants in the region.
These prophecies were made more than 700 years before their fulfillment. Scholars identify over 300 prophecies concerning Jesus, with at least 48 directly related to His birth. Mathematician Peter Stoner calculated the probability of one person fulfilling just 48 of these prophecies: one chance in 10 to the 157th power—a number so vast it surpasses human comprehension.
A Radical Resume
In Matthew’s day, lineage was everything. People often edited their genealogies to highlight prestigious ancestors while omitting scandalous ones. However, Matthew does the opposite. He includes stories of flawed yet pivotal individuals, such as Rahab, a prostitute, and Ruth, a Moabite widow, showing that God’s plan of salvation is not confined to human expectations of righteousness.
This genealogy is a testament to God’s grace, demonstrating that He works through imperfect people to accomplish His divine will. The lineage of Jesus reminds us that no matter our background or mistakes, God’s purpose prevails.
As we reflect on these verses, let us be reminded of the awe-inspiring truth: Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises, and His genealogy is a reflection of humanity’s need for a Savior.
