ニューイングランドの母校からアドベントの便り、その5
2016 Gordon-Conwell
Advent Devotional | Day 5 | The Back Story
Matthew 1:1-17
On the very first page of the New Testament we find a genealogy that summarizes Israel’s story. It’s an unfinished story, but Matthew drops some clues that tell us how the story will begin coming completion.
First, by structuring his genealogy of Jesus around Abraham, David, and the Exile, Matthew evokes the promises God made in each of these eras. God promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his family (Gen 12). He promised David that he would rule the nations (Psalm 2; Gen. 49:8-10). He promised that the exile would come to an end, that the chaos of sin and destruction would be addressed for all time, and that God would establish a New Covenant and a New Creation under his benevolent reign.
Secondly, we might suppose that God primarily uses heroes, winners, overachievers and insiders. Instead, we see God working through a rebellious and broken people. Abraham cannot produce children and lies about his wife; David is in the genealogy next to the name of the man he murdered. Contra the popular slogan, God helps those who cannot help themselves.
Finally, we see the names of four Gentiles (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Uriah) in the genealogy. All four of these characters left a pagan way of life in order to join themselves to Israel and Israel’s God. Early Jews and Christians recognized them as redeemed Gentiles, and Matthew seems to think that these Old Testament figures show us how the Messiah will finish Israel’s story (Matt. 12:17-21; 28:18-20).
That’s where we come in. After King Jesus comes, the story of Israel doesn’t just lead to the Messiah. It leads to us. As we await the Second Advent, we have the enormous privilege of participating in the completion of that story by making disciples from every nation, tribe, and tongue.
Dr. Jason Hood
Director of Advanced Urban Ministerial Education
