Recently I attended the memorial service for my great-aunt’s daughter. Her name was Jean, and she lived a wonderful life of 97 years. The small rural community hall was packed, and it was a beautiful time of celebrating her life and her legacy. Later during the reception, my mom and dad explained to me how we were related to almost every person in the room. These kinds of days remind me that I am a part of a much larger family than I realize, and our family story is much deeper, richer, and precious than I can ever fully understand.

I think that’s why at Christmas, I am often drawn to the story of Jesus’ family record, his genealogy found in Matthew 1.

It begins by placing Jesus in the line of Abraham and David, two of the most important figures in Israelite history. God promised Abraham that he would make him a great nation, and that all people on earth would be blessed through him (Genesis 12). Much later, God promised David, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16) Jesus fulfills both of these promises!

So far so good, right? Well, like any family story, there are a few characters and stories that we’d prefer to not mention. Yet included in the genealogy we find Judah and Tamar which is as scandalous a story as they come! Matthew also mentions people who weren’t even Israelites, and women, who culturally were never included in the family record. This includes Rahab the Canaanite prostitute who helped Israel in their victory over Jericho, and Ruth who was a Moabite. And the topper might be Matthew’s description of King David’s son Solomon as the one “...whose mother had been Uriah’s wife.” Solomon’s mother is Bathsheba, the woman with whom King David committed adultery!

There are a couple of reasons why I am drawn to this colourful list of names. First, it is the imperfection of the people in the story that connects me to the story. Jesus is not perfect because of his lineage, he is perfect because he is the Son of God. God’s incredible grace leads him to work his perfect plan through imperfect people just like you and me. In fact, I often wonder if Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, Abraham, David, or even Mary and Joseph ever fully understood what they were a part of.

And second, this story says to me, “You can be a part of this family too.” Kings, prostitutes, outcasts, foreigners, sinners… everyone is invited to be a part of the family of God through our perfect Saviour Jesus.

I love my extended family, even with our many imperfections. I am even more grateful that in Jesus, I am a part of an eternal family. I am humbled each day by the truth that I get to play a part in the story of salvation just by following Jesus.

Whether you love your family, wish you had a different family, or feel like the outcast of your family, I want you to know that Jesus is inviting you to be a part of a new family. A family where forgiveness is given and grace overflows. A family where you find true meaning and purpose. A family where you will grow day by day to look a lot like Jesus in heart, mind and soul. A family where God will use you to play your part in the story he is writing.