JP9: UNLIKELY ANCESTORS, UNLIKELY POTENTIAL: JESUS ELEVATES ZEROS INTO HEROES

Ironically, the old idiom "God is in the details" is believed to be the origin of today's more commonly used expression, "The devil is in the details".   Both phrases speak to the importance of details, but from different perspectives.

Details provide context that would have helped Jesus’ disciples resolve their questions as they return from buying food to find their leader speaking (alone) with a woman from Samaria.

“Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” (John 4:27)

When Jesus' disciples found him speaking with a woman, they were likely shocked, but at a minimum confused.  Men in those days did not have public conversations with women.  And while they did not ask Jesus, by John's first hand account they were curious about what he was doing and why he was doing it.  

The Messiah’s break with a system that systematically depreciated the value of women begged for explanation.  When we observe the finer details of Jesus' genealogy, we find clues that reveal how God the Father views everyone with equal value and potential, including those society labels as zeros.

Unlikely Ancestors

There are only four women listed by name in the genealogy of Jesus (See Matthew 1:1-17).  This detail is not an accident.  They are listed for a reason. While several generations separate them, in birth order the women of note are Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Mary the mother of Jesus.  

If someone were to ask you to give some details about the first three, how would you respond?  Without even knowing them we might guess that they were especially holy, women of great faith and devotion to God.  Perhaps women of noble birth in famous families.  

But, that is not the case at all.  Would it surprise you to learn that three of Jesus' women ancestors were from foreign tribes (non Jewish)? Of those three, two were prostitutes.

Tamar was from Canaan and after her husband died, she posed as a shrine prostitute to conceive children by her father in law - the patriarch Judah.  Tamar gives birth to twin sons Perez and Zerah. (Genesis 38:1-27)

Through Perez's line, six generations later, Rahab (also a Canaanite prostitute) and her family are the only survivors of the battle of Jericho when she faithfully ties a scarlet cord in the window of her home. (Joshua 2:1-22)  Rahab and a man named Salmon have a son named Boaz.

Rahab later becomes mother in law to Ruth, a Moabite who marries her son Boaz (You can read about Ruth’s incredible loyalty and faith in the bible book named after her).  Together they have Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of King David and the line continues forward for the next 28 generations to Mary (who miraculously conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit) and Joseph - the earthly parents of Jesus.

Unlikely Potential

As it was with these excellent women, potential in God’s kingdom flows by grace on the basis of faith, not cultural judgements.  You don’t have to be high born and well connected to have high potential for following Jesus.  Jesus could have a conversation with a Samaritan woman and spend two days with her townspeople because he saw them for their true value.  He identified with them as His people, not outcasts of society.

Jesus views everyone with equal value and potential, including those society would label as zeros.  So should we.

As you ponder the details of your life, are you letting something hold you back from being all in for Jesus?  Do you feel “less than” or have shame because of things in your past?  Jesus knows all of the details, even the devilish ones, and wants you to know that you are loved, just like the Samaritan woman, and his ancestors Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Mary.  

You are worth his time and individual attention just the way you are.  If God can make heroes from Jesus’ unlikely ancestors, what could he do through you?