Today’s Reading: Matthew 3:13-17

God had a magnificent plan for John the Baptist, yet John remained humble. He was given the role of preparing Israel for the coming of their Messiah, he was given the honor of seeing Jesus revealed as the Son of God, and he was given the privilege of introducing the Lamb of God to the very people whose sins Jesus would die for.

John could have thought too much of himself but he knew he was also one who needed a Savior, and that knowledge kept him humble. He could have said, “Jesus is my cousin! God has chosen this relative of mine to bring salvation!” But instead he left himself out of the introduction and simply said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

It seems to me that John told half the story of Jesus’ baptism and Matthew told the other half. Therefore, I am going to combine both passages so that we can get an idea of how this took place:

John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.” – John 1:26-27

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.’” – John 1:29-31

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” – Matthew 3:13-17

Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.’” – John 1:32-34

The study Bible I use points out that the language John the Baptist used when he referred to Jesus as “the Chosen One of God” and the language God used when He said “This is my dearly loved Son” is the same language used in Isaiah 42:1: “Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations.”

Just as God had a plan for John the Baptist, who remained humble in carrying out God’s will for his life, we should also remain humble. What God calls us to do, the position He places us in and the things He calls us to, NONE OF IT IS ABOUT US. It’s about Him – the Chosen One of God, the Dearly Loved Son. It was for our sins that Jesus died, and so we come to Him as a humble servant, ready to be used however He desires — for His glory and not ours.

Thank you for dying for my sins.
Thank you for carrying my weaknesses and my sorrows,
for being pierced for my rebellion, crushed for my sins.
I am whole because you were beaten;
I am healed because you were whipped.
There have been so many times I have gone astray and left your path to follow my own, yet you willingly bore my sins and interceded for my rebellious heart. This morning I submit to your path and give you all the praise and glory for where this path takes me. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 3:1-12

And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. – Matthew 3:6

John the Baptist was called by God to prepare the way for the Lord by preaching a strong message of repentance. He baptized men and women who confessed their sins and repented of their ways. The purpose of baptism wasn’t just to experience a spiritual moment of cleansing, it was to proclaim that this individual was dying to their old way of life and ready to turn to God in submission.

I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am — so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. – Matthew 3:11

John the Baptist preached a message of repentance, calling people to make changes in their lives. He was preparing the way for Jesus, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. With the Spirit’s involvement, life changes do not have to be manufactured by our own human effort. The Spirit comes in and begins to change the desires of our heart. This change in our heart creates a change in our behavior and others begin to notice.

Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. – Luke 3:3

The physical act of baptism is a symbol of the spiritual transformation that takes place when we repent and seek forgiveness. There is nothing about the water that changes us, but baptism is a symbolic way of testifying to the change that has taken place. It is meant to be a genuine reflection of our changing behavior and Christlike attitudes.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9 Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. – Matthew 3:7-9

Authentic life transformation is evident by the fruit produced in our lives by the Spirit. We then become useful for building God’s Kingdom and responding to what He is calling us to do, just as John the Baptist lived out his call in obedience.

Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. – Matthew 3:10

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

The people responded to the message of John the Baptist with hearts willing to change. Now what should we do? How can we show that our hearts are open to whatever God has for us. John the Baptist responded by describing the physical actions that would reflect the heart transformation (Luke 3:10-14):

If you have more than you need, give your excess to the poor.
If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.
Stop taking more than you need.
Be content with what you have instead of craving more.

Lord, we thank you so much for the changes your Spirit made in our lives when we made the decision to repent of our sinful ways and turn fully to you. We rejoice over the transformation you have made and give you the glory for the fruit that is being produced in our relationship with you. Lord, we give you this day and we invite you to continue to make changes in us. We love you! Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 2:13-23

When he learned of Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph planned to divorce Mary quietly. If he did not draw attention to the situation, perhaps he would be spared the embarrassment and she would be saved the shame. Joseph was a good man and did not want Mary to be publicly disgraced.

An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. This child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would save his people from their sins. Joseph was to marry her and name the baby Jesus. When he woke up from the dream, Joseph chose to believe and do everything the Lord had commanded him to do. He respectfully cared for her and faithfully obeyed the instructions he had been given (Matthew 1:18-25).

An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream again after the wisemen came to visit Jesus.

“Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” – Matthew 2:13b

Joseph was not just told to move to another home, he was told to flee — to run away from the danger that was headed their direction. There was a sense of urgency and a strong need for Joseph to respond without delay. The same man of God who woke up and did exactly what the Lord had told him to do when he took Mary as his wife was now responding again in obedience.

That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.” – Matthew 2:14-15

At times God calls us to respond without delay. Not tomorrow, not next week, not whenever you get around to it. This moment requires an undelayed response. Joseph left Egypt that night. He took only the time needed to gather together his family and then quickly moved them to safety, just as the angel had commanded them to do. And then he stayed.

Just as easily as he had responded to God’s command to flee, Joseph obediently stayed where God had told him to stay. To stay is to remain where you are; to stay is to stand firm, to take residence, and to wait. The same strength that equipped Joseph to run to safety also equipped him to rest where God had placed him.

What is God telling you to do right now? Is He telling you that it is time to move on in an area of your life? Or perhaps there is a sense of urgency and you are hearing the Lord tell you to flee — to run away from a situation or to move away from a dangerous environment or a toxic relationship. Will you respond without delay even if it is the hardest thing you have ever done?

Or perhaps God is giving you permission to stay; perhaps God is telling you to remain where He has you and rest in His perfect plan. His timing is always what we need, even when it challenges our patience. So stay…take residence…rest. Be still and wait until you hear Him telling you differently.

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. “Get up!” the angel said. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.” So Joseph got up and returned to the land of Israel with Jesus and his mother. But when he learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herod’s son Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee. – Matthew 2:19-22

Lord, we sit before you quietly this morning and wait on you. We pray that you will direct us in the way we should go. Give us a heart that responds in trust with a willingness to go if you call us to go and stay if you ask us to stay. May our response to you be undistracted and undelayed — both today and tomorrow. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 2:1-12

Have you ever set out to do something, but lost track of what you were doing or became distracted by something else before you could accomplish your task? Have you ever made a trip to the grocery store to buy something and came back with ten other items, forgetting the item you set out to purchase? Have you ever walked across your house and then became so entranced in a different thought that you could not remember what you came into the room to do?

We live such busy lives that it is incredibly easy to become distracted or to lose course. Life becomes routine and we start going through the motions, forgetting what life is really about or what is most important. In fact, Sunday mornings can become so routine that even church becomes about something other than worshiping God.

GIVE GOD YOUR FOCUS

God wants us to purposefully focus on Him every day, to live our lives with our eyes fixed on Him. Every day of our lives can become about how we worship our King — how we spend time seeking Him and entering into His presence to give Him praise.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” – Matthew 2:1-2

We have come to worship him. What a great reminder for me this morning to check my intent when I enter into my quiet time or go to a service at church. I think there are a lot of times when I am going through the motions instead of sincerely entering into God’s presence to worship Him. When I wake up, grab a cup of coffee and open my Bible, it would be helpful to pause and consider that this time is not about me but about Him. When I walk into the Church, it is not about the people I get to see, or whether or not I am going to like the song selection. I am there to worship God and to learn.

DISTRACTED ALONG THE WAY

The wisemen could have easily been distracted on their journey. The wisemen came to Jerusalem intently looking for the King of the Jews. This was not something they were doing halfheartedly. They had spent years studying for this journey and their hearts were committed to this search. But there was one who tried hard to distract them – to make this search about him instead of about the newborn King.

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him…Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I may go and worship him.” – Matthew 2:3-8

This was the moment when the purpose for their search could have changed. This is the person who could have distracted the wisemen from their calling. This is the time in which their quest could have become about earthly success or acclaim, but the wisemen stayed focused on their original purpose — to find and worship the King of all Kings.

After they heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. – Matthew 2:9-11a

The Message says the wisemen were overcome when they saw Jesus; the NLT says they were filled with joy. When we enter into God’s house or enter into His presence during our daily quiet time, we can experience what it means to be overcome with joy if we have truly come to worship Him. We can bow before Jesus, open up our hearts to Him, and sincerely worship Him. Then we can empty ourselves and offer Him everything we have to give.

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. – Matthew 2:11b

THE GIFT OF YOUR ATTENTION

What gift can you offer to Jesus today? I can tell you what gift He wants. He wants YOU – all of you, focused on Him and entering into His presence sincerely intent on worshiping Him. Oh how I need that this morning! I want to cherish this quiet start to my morning and rest in His Word undistracted — to soak in the presence of Jesus and allow God to make today exactly what He wants it to be.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 1:20-25

Imagine with me what it must have been like for Joseph to learn that Mary was with child. A marriage had been arranged and their future together had been planned. She was pledged to be married to Joseph. Imagine the disappointment and hurt he must have felt to hear that she was pregnant. We do not know who broke this news to Joseph, but scripture tells us that he was taking care of Mary even as he planned to break their engagement quietly. He did not wish for her to be publicly disgraced (Matthew 1:19).

Joseph was a righteous man. He lived his life according to religious law, always choosing to do the right thing. But when the law allowed, even required, for someone caught in the act of adultery or premarital sin to be brought before her community and questioned, Joseph made a different plan. We would expect him to react in hurt and anger, but Joseph’s righteousness was displayed as compassion and mercy.

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. – James 2:12-13

Joseph chose mercy. We do not know that much about this man who became the earthly father of Jesus, but we know he was a righteous man who chose mercy over judgment. He chose a plan that would protect Mary and her family. He would divorce her quietly.

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:20-21

It can be assumed from the first thing that the angel of the Lord said to Joseph that he must have been experiencing fear. Perhaps he had considered taking Mary as his wife but feared what others would assume of him if he did. Perhaps he feared judgment would land on him and his family if he went through with the marriage. We do not know what Joseph was thinking, but we do know what he was feeling. This was a new and unfamiliar situation, and Joseph was experiencing fear.

DO NOT BE AFRAID.

At what point would Joseph have recognized that he was witnessing the fulfillment of prophecy? He was a righteous man who knew the law, and it could be easily assumed that he was also familiar with the hundreds of Old Testament prophecies of the coming of the Messiah. But it took a supernatural encounter with an angel of the Lord for Joseph to believe that there had been a supernatural conception. Joseph chose to respond in obedience and experienced God in the form of a baby.

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’” – Matthew 1:22-23

GOD IS WITH US.

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus. – Matthew 1:24-25

Lord, thank you for the reminder this morning that we do not need to be afraid to walk in the way you have planned for us. Strengthen our faith and give us the opportunity to experience your presence today like we never have for before. Continue to teach us what mercy looks like, and increase our understanding of how you came to save us from our sins. Immanuel, God with us, we sit at your feet with open hearts to hear from you. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 1:18-19

As we begin a new journey through the book of Matthew, I am asking God to give me new insights. I long for my heart to take the next steps in my surrender to Him. As Frances J. Crosby wrote in 1880, I am asking God to write the story of Jesus on my heart so that I have a renewed submission to whatever the Spirit wants to do in me.

My plan for this year is to go through the book of Matthew, and then return to the other gospels after we have studied this apostle’s account of the life of Jesus. Some of these devotionals will be familiar from previous years and some will be new. I invite you to join me in studying the book of Matthew in preparation for the upcoming celebration of the birth of Christ.

THIS IS HOW…

Everyone’s story can be started with these three words. This is how Sherry came to be born to a young couple in Bloomington, Indiana. This is how that family came to know Christ. This is how Sherry fell in love with her friend, Scott, and they chose to get married. This is how their family grew, and this is how all five of them pursued God’s call on their lives.

The story of Jesus as told by the apostle Matthew starts with these same three words:

THIS IS HOW Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. – Matthew 1:18-19

THIS IS HOW Jesus was born.
THIS IS HOW the virgin, Mary, came to be with child.
THIS IS HOW Joseph decided to marry her instead of divorcing her quietly.
THIS IS HOW Mary & Joseph were in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.
THIS IS HOW Jesus was born in a stable instead of an inn.
THIS IS HOW shepherds and wisemen came to visit the baby Jesus.
THIS IS HOW Herod came to know of the birth of King Jesus.
THIS IS HOW the prophecy of Isaiah came to be fulfilled in the birth of Jesus.

This is how the story of Jesus began. So what is your story? How did you come to know Christ? What circumstances brought you to the place in life you are today? How would you finish this sentence:

THIS IS HOW ______________________________________(fill in the blank)

In a trust exercise, our leadership team went around the table sharing a little about our backstory. Where were you born? How many siblings do you have and where are you in the birth order? What is something about your childhood that speaks loudly into the adult you are today? It was a moment of honesty and vulnerability – a moment when we trusted each other with new information and purposefully began a journey to increase our trust in one another for the sake of our effectiveness in ministry.

Knowing where we have been, and how we arrived at where we are today, helps us gain focus on where we are going. As Paul Harvey would ask, what is the rest of the story? We have the opportunity to write the next chapter of our lives – our next THIS IS HOW.

Heavenly Father, we bow before you on this beautiful morning asking that you would see into our hearts. Lord, see the desire of our heart to live a life that pleases you. We thank you for our story, for the way you have been with us through the great times and through the difficult ones. We ask for a renewed faith as we study the gospel of Matthew, hearing again how you gave your Son for us — to be born in a manger and to die on a cross. May our hearts be open to any new insights you have for us as we read through your story! Lord, we bring to you the gift of our lives and we give you where our story goes from here. Father, take the pen out of my hand and write the rest of my story for me. I give you creative control of all my tomorrows. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 1:26-56

There are five women in the genealogy of Jesus – five women with stained reputations, but also five women whom God chose to bless by placing them in this royal lineage. What would Jesus have said regarding his precious mother, Mary, the fifth woman in this genealogy recorded by Matthew? Let’s look at her story – a story of a young woman who was the object of gossip, speculation, condemnation and, best of all, the love of Jesus.

Matthan was the father of Jacob.
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah. – Matthew 1:15b-16

Mary — a simple young woman seen by God to be worthy of the task of raising God’s Son.
Mary — a virgin waiting for her upcoming marriage to the carpenter Joseph.
Mary — found to be with child before her wedding day.

Who would believe her when she said an angel appeared to her?
Who would be convinced she was still a virgin?
Who would be the first to call out for her stoning?

Luke tells the story of how Mary came to be in the lineage of Jesus. An angel appeared to Mary saying, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end! – Luke 1:28-31

Mary could have panicked; she could have argued, “Why me?!!” She could have worried about her reputation or feared how her community might react. But Mary, precious Mary, responded in submission to God’s holy plan with a humility that is still highly respected today. Listen to the words of her beautiful song of praise:

“…Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed…” – Luke 1:46-48

Mary humbly traveled to Bethlehem in Judea, while far along in her pregnancy, only to arrive in labor with no place but a simple manger to give birth to the Christ child (Luke 2:4-7).

Mary humbly listened to the shepherds’ story of what the angels had said to them and kept all these things in her heart, thinking about them often (Luke 2:16-19).

Mary humbly presented her baby to the Lord in Jerusalem and was amazed by what Simeon had to say about the baby she held in her arms. Can you imagine what she was thinking when she heard his words: “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul” (Luke 2:34-35).

Mary humbly responded when the prophet Anna began praising God and telling everyone that this child was the one God would use to rescue Jerusalem (Luke 2:36-38).

At what point do you think Mary began to feel a little overwhelmed? She was human and would have felt the same things we would feel if we thought we had lost our twelve year old in Jerusalem during the crowded Passover festival (Luke 2:48). She was his mother, no wonder she pushed him toward greatness at the wedding in Cana (John 2:3-5). She was his mother, no wonder she interrupted his ministry with the desire to talk with him and spend time with him (Matthew 12:46). He was her son, no wonder she wept as he hung on the cross dying (Matthew 27:56).

What would Jesus have to say about this fifth woman listed in his genealogy? She was his mother and he loved her.

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother,” and from then on this disciple took her into his home. – John 19:25-27

Jesus said very little while on the cross, but he took the time to respond to his mother’s breaking heart. His love for her must have been so great! Wouldn’t it be great to be loved by Jesus in that way? But wait, we are! Remember this conversation:

Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” – Matthew 12:48-50

This fifth woman in the genealogy of Jesus was no doubt loved and cared for by her son, but that same love and care was poured out for us when Jesus gave His life on the cross so that we might spend eternity with Him. Let’s consider how much Jesus loves us as we finish our morning coffee.

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 11-12, Luke 7:37-50, Psalm 90

There are five women in the genealogy of Jesus – five women with stained reputations but also five women whom God chose to bless by placing them in this royal lineage. As Jesus was growing up, I am sure his parents taught him the stories of his ancestors.

What would Jesus have said regarding Bathsheba, the fourth woman in his paternal genealogy? Let’s look at her story – a story that includes foolishness, adultery, intense grief and finally redemption – a second chance.

David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). – Matthew 1:6b

The fact that Bathsheba is described in the genealogy of Jesus as the widow of Uriah is a reminder of the sin that brought her into this family tree. Bathsheba made a foolish decision that led to a weak moment which led to a tragic death of an innocent man, her husband.

Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.” – 2 Samuel 11:2-5

David’s first mistake is that he was not where he should have been. It was customary for the king to be on the battlefield with the army, but David chose to send the Israelite army out alone. Bathsheba’s first mistake was similar. She was not where she should have been. Even if the weather was warm and a bath on the roof was permissible, she should have set up a covering to prevent anyone from being able to see her. Bathsheba would have been fully aware that she could be seen from the roof of the palace.

“Stay ever so close to me, and you will not deviate from the path I have prepared for you.” This is great advice from Sarah Young’s book Jesus Calling, and would have been good advice for David and Bathsheba. If they had stayed close to God, they would have been where they were supposed to be and would not have given into sexual immorality. Their union led to shame and an unintended pregnancy, which led to a cover-up attempt, which led to the death of Bathsheba’s husband, which led to their grief when their son died seven days after birth.

David confessed his sin to the Lord and, although there were still some harsh consequences, God forgave David his sin (12:11-14). God blessed David and Bathsheba with another son and David named him Solomon.

This is the story of how Bathsheba came to be in the lineage of Jesus. What would the young man, Jesus, have to say of this woman in his family story – the one with the “scarlet letter”?

When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”…

Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”

“That’s right,” Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.

“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven…Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” – Luke 7:37-50

If you can relate to Bathsheba’s foolish decisions and sinful behavior, if you understand the grief and regret she suffered, then perhaps these words are what you need to hear from the Prince of Peace himself — “Your sins are forgiven…Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” If you relate more to the Pharisees who stood in condemnation of the sinful woman who was kneeling at Jesus’ feet, if you have focused on the sins of another person or refused to forgive them, then perhaps these words are also for you — “Your sins are forgiven…Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Today’s Reading: Ruth 2-3, Romans 3

There are five women in the genealogy of Jesus – five women with stained reputations but also five women whom God chose to bless by placing them in this royal lineage. As Jesus was growing up, I am sure his parents taught him the stories of his ancestors.

Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab).
Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). – Matthew 1:5

What would Jesus have said regarding Ruth, the third of the women in his paternal genealogy? Let’s look at her story – a story that includes the loss of a husband and leaving everything she knows to go to a strange land, only to be treated as an outsider or foreigner. Ruth’s stained reputation had nothing to do with her actions and everything to do with the color of her skin and her ethnic heritage.

Just like Rahab, Ruth was a foreigner who took refuge under the wings of the God of Israel (Ruth 2:12). When given the opportunity to return to her family and their false gods, Ruth said to her mother-in-law, Naomi, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” – Ruth 1:16-17

Naomi returned to soil that had been inactive in her husband’s absence. With no one there to plant the seed, there would be no harvest. Naomi sent Ruth out to gather what was left after the workers had harvested their fields. But God’s plan for Ruth was not for her to survive on leftovers, but that she would thrive in abundance. She had been faithfully devoted to both Naomi and to the Lord, and He was about to do something for her that was beyond her understanding.

In those days, the nearest relative to the patriarch in the family was referred to as the “Family Redeemer.” Boaz was a wealthy and influential man — a close relative to Naomi’s deceased husband, Elimelech. However, Boaz was not the closest relative, so he went on Ruth’s behalf and arranged to buy the land and take Ruth as his wife.

Like Tamar, Ruth was a widow who was left without children to carry on the family name. But God had a plan of redemption for Ruth, just as He had for Tamar. Not only would Ruth’s family be famous in Bethlehem, Bethlehem would become famous because of Ruth’s family.

The women in the town saw this union of Boaz and Ruth as Naomi’s redemption. She had lost her husband and both of her sons and was left alone with only her daughter-in-law to support her. Knowing that the Christ child was to be born in this family lineage, consider the powerful words of these unsuspecting women as they speak a blessing on Naomi and her descendants.

“Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!” Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David. – Ruth 4:14-17

So Ruth was the great-grandmother to David, the first King of Israel and the one whose lineage would produce the Messiah. From the union of Boaz and Ruth, the ultimate Family Redeemer would be born. Because of our own sinful choices, we were slaves to our sin, but Jesus paid the debt and rescued us from slavery with the shedding of his scarlet blood.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. – Romans 3:23-25a

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. – Ephesians 1:7

This is the story of how Ruth came to be in the lineage of Jesus. Though others saw her as less because of where she came from, God saw her as more because He knew where she was going. God’s plan of redemption was not only for Tamar, Rahab and Ruth; God’s plan of redemption is for us. No matter who we are or what we have done, Jesus is our Family Redeemer. Though we are poor and have nothing of earthly value to offer, He has paid our debt and delivered us from slavery to sin.

Let us worship our Family Redeemer — the One who was born and then died to offer us eternal life. Let us humbly bow down and offer to Him all that we are, along with all of our past regrets, so that we can walk into His future and thankfully accept His gift of salvation.

Today’s Reading: Joshua 2, John 8:1-11

There are five women in the genealogy of Jesus – five women with stained reputations but also five women whom God chose to bless by placing them in this royal lineage. As Jesus was growing up, I am sure his parents taught him the stories of his ancestors. He would have known Rahab’s story – a story that includes prostitution, deceit, dishonesty and finally REDEMPTION and a new life.

Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). – Matthew 1:5a

Tamar had disguised herself and acted as a prostitute one time in an act of deceit, but Rahab made a living from prostitution. Rahab opened her home to strangers as an inn or hotel in the walled city of Jericho. It was common for women who owned this kind of business to also offer more than just a place to sleep for the night, but to also offer their body to the strangers passing through town.

But this night was different. Her guests served the God she had heard so much about, the God who drew her to Himself in a way that perhaps made her feel loved and worthy for the first time. So when she received orders from the king of Jericho to bring out the spies, Rahab lied and said the spies were no longer there. To protect these godly men, she hid them beneath bundles of flax she had laid out on the roof and lied about their whereabouts. She lowered them to the ground out her window using a scarlet rope in order to help them escape safely.

Rahab’s desire was to live. But beyond the idea of escaping death, Rahab desired to REALLY live – to experience the kind of life the God of Israel could give her. She had heard the stories and her heart longed to be a part of what God was doing. This foreign prostitute had developed a faith in God in the midst of a pagan world.

So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who were with her in the house, because she had hidden the spies Joshua sent to Jericho. And she lives among the Israelites to this day. – Joshua 6:25

This is the story of how Rahab came to be in the lineage of Jesus. In this story, Rahab risked her life in order to spare the life of two men of God. She walked away from everything she had ever known – the sin, the shame, the regret, the scarlet rope – and began worshiping the God who had always loved her.

A man named Salmon (a descendant of Tamar’s son Perez) looked beyond Rahab’s past and gave her a future as his wife. Perhaps Salmon remembered the redemption of Tamar when he looked at Rahab and was willing to offer her the same grace that had been extended to his ancestor. Together they had a son and they named him Boaz. All three of these names can be found in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

What would the young man, Jesus, have to say of this woman in his family story? What would Jesus have to say of this woman with a history of sexual immorality? Perhaps Jesus’ thoughts went to Rahab when he knelt down and wrote in the sand:

“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down and wrote in the dust.

When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” – John 8:4-11

Perhaps there is a “scarlet rope” in your past that has kept you in bondage when God wants to use it for your escape. Just like Tamar and Rahab, God’s perfect plan for you includes redemption and forgiveness – new life in Christ. Or perhaps there is someone in your life for whom God intends deliverance but you are using the “scarlet rope” to keep them in bondage, unwilling to forgive or forget the sinful decisions they have made.

Jesus is stooping down and writing something in the sand. Listen closely. He is saying something. “But let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Let’s put down the stone in our hand, unwrap the scarlet rope from around her reputation and offer her the same thing that God offers her — redemption, forgiveness, and a new life in Christ.