Most families like to keep their family secrets a secret. Yet amazingly, you have barely dipped a toe into Matthew's gospel when you realize that Jesus hails from a less-than-perfect family. Rahab was a Jericho harlot. Grandpa Jacob was slippery enough to warrant an electric ankle bracelet. David had a personality as irregular as a Picasso painting - one day writing Psalms, another day seducing his captain's wife. But did Jesus erase their names from the list? Not at all. Why did He hang His family's dirty laundry on the neighborhood clothesline? This is because your family has secrets too. A cousin with a prison record. A dad who left and never came home. A grand-parent who ran away with a co-worker. If your family tree has damaged fruit, Jesus wants you to know "I have been there". The phrase "I have been there" is Christ's theme song.
To the lonely He whispers "I have been there". To the discouraged, He nods His head and sighs "I have been there". The absence of Joseph in the adult life of Jesus suggests that Mary may have raised Him and the rest of their children alone. Jesus was not reluctant to call His ancestors His family - and He is not ashamed of you either! Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy, are from the same family. "He is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters." That means He is not ashamed of you; nor is He confused by you. Your actions do not bewilder Him. Your family secrets do not trouble Him. So come to Him. After all, you are part of the family.
1 comment:
Hi,
been reading your blogs and this is the best one so far, great work i daresay. (My only misgiving if any is that Mary didnt raise Jesus and his siblings alone: Joseph could have died as we did not hear of him again after the incident at the temple when Jesus was missing and his folks were looking for HIM). We can all infer this with our sanctified minds. Great write-up and great read too. God bless and equip you to do better.
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