Matthew 1:1 (ESV)

The Bible says Jesus is real.

The first chapter in Matthew is the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

In the next 15 verses Matthew moves to prove his point.

This was a male dominated culture, but Matthew includes five women on the list:
Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary.

None of these women at this time would have been seen as women of honor.

The Holy Spirit brings us these names on purpose.

Here is the message for you and me in the genealogy of Jesus. Unholiness is considered to be contagious, but Jesus changes that paradigm. The holiness of Jesus infects us by our contact with Him.

This is why Christmas Matters.
This is why we should celebrate.
No matter how far on the outside we may feel,
Jesus came to bring us to the inside.

Solomon was the father of Rehoboam who did evil in the eyes of the Lord: wise father, an unwise son.

Rehoboam was the father of Abijam:
he walked in the ways of his father.

Abijam was the father of Asa:
a father who was evil but a son who did right.

Asa the father of Jehosophat:
a father who did right and a son who did right.

Jehosophat the father of Jehoram:
a father who did right but a son who does evil.

Here is the lesson:

• No matter how bad your background, you make your own destiny with God.
  
  
• No matter how good your background, you make your own destiny with God.
  
  
• No matter how much we wander from God, God will work out His promise in society.

The Holy Spirit shows that we are equally lost and sinful and equally accepted and loved.

The story of Jesus is presented by the writers as a true story.