Born Into a Complicated World

By Chadwick Anderson

And Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah” (Matthew 1:16).

“Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli” (Luke 3:23).

We know Joseph served as the earthly father of Jesus, but who was the father of Joseph? Maybe you’ve already looked into this question, but if not, take a moment to reflect on Matthew 1:16 and then Luke 3:23. So which is it — Jacob or Heli?

What seems to be a discrepancy is easily explained by the purposes, audience and author of both passages. I’ll let you look at Eusebius of Caesarea’s “Church History” (Book 1, Chapter 7) for fun on your own time. But suffice it to say, sometimes family can be a complicated matter.

When my wife and I were in the process of adopting our youngest from the Democratic Republic of Congo, we had to submit our own birth certificates. I contacted my hometown county records office, which informed me that unfortunately many of their records had been impacted by basement flooding. They asked me to submit further documentation for my request. The problem was I had changed all three of my names when I was adopted by my stepfather as a teenager. I needed to prove my own name change as well, just to request my birth certificate!

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“It’s humbling to realize the love of God saw the suffering and disorder of our world, and chose to be born right in the middle of it all.”

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Considering the complications that arise still in today’s circumstances, it’s pretty amazing we have been given these genealogies containing details on the lineage of both Joseph and Mary. They give us context to the humility Jesus shows by entering into our physical and messy existence. Philippians 2:7 says that Jesus “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness” (NRSVue).

It’s a good reminder for us that Jesus existed even before He was “born” into this world. None of us can say we were involved in the choice to be born. If we could, some of us may have chosen an easier or more comfortable situation to be born into.

Thankfully, many of us have experienced the ways God uses our difficult circumstances to bring His redemption and healing. Still, it’s humbling to realize the love of God saw the suffering and disorder of our world, and chose to be born right in the middle of it all.

He could have simply written a note or spoken through a prophet, saying, “I love you, and I really mean it!” By making the choice to enter our situation fully, God reveals a love that invites us to join by the power of His Spirit today.

Questions for Reflection:

1. Where (and how) do you see God entering in to be with you in some of your most difficult moments or areas of life?
2. How might God be calling you to “enter into” the suffering of someone you know, in the power of the Holy Spirit, as a way of revealing His love in a tangible way?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for choosing to enter into our complicated world. Thank You for loving us in tangible ways, and continuing to reveal that love still today. Help us to look for and identify all the ways Your love continues to reach out to us. Help me to join Your love for the sake of others in tangible ways this week, by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

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