Wednesday 17 December 2025 - This living family tree

Wednesday 17 December 2025

Today is Wednesday the 17th of December, in the 3rd week of Advent. Paul Zach and Liz Vice with The Porter’s Gate sing, ‘Isaiah (O Come)’. For those who walk in darkness The sun is rising, rising, rising The shadow dies Our anguish flies From dawn on high Oh, Lord Jesus, come! The yoke upon our shoulders Is finally breaking, breaking, breaking Our burdens gone In that bright dawn When He has come Oh, Lord Jesus, come! The Son to us is given And we are waiting, waiting, waiting Emmanuel Oh Wonderful! Your peace to tell Oh, Lord Jesus, come! Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 1:1-17 An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations. Why do you think Matthew was keen to record the genealogy of Jesus? Notice what stirred in you as you heard this long list of names... Which name in the list draws your attention most strongly? Sit with that name for a moment - why might this name be speaking to you today? Perhaps there are names in this list that surprise, unsettle or challenge you. Sit with why this might be... The family tree of faith extends down the generations and includes us. What does belonging to this living family tree of faith mean for you personally? As we hear the second half of the passage again, give thanks for the people who helped you to find your place in the family of Jesus. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations. In these last moments of quiet, pray for those whom God is calling you to draw into Christ’s family. O Wisdom Lord and Ruler Root of Jesse Key of David Rising Sun King of the Nations Emmanuel Come, Lord Jesus