Moments with the Gospel Series: The Genealogy of Jesus and Advent

 Moments s with the Gospel

Moments with the Gospel Icon.

The Genealogy of Jesus according to Matthew.

Matthew 1:1–17 can feel dry at first glance, but in Advent it is quietly profound.

 

1. Advent begins with history, not sentiment

Advent does not begin with angels or shepherds in Matthew.
It begins with a list of names.  Advent is not about a vague spiritual hope.
It is about God entering real human history.  This genealogy says:

God did not drop Jesus into the world like a miracle detached from time. He arrived through generations, families, decisions, failures, and faithfulness.  Advent is about waiting for God in the middle of ordinary, messy human life.

2. God keeps His promises — slowly, faithfully

Matthew structures the genealogy in three sets of fourteen generations:

• Abraham → David
• David → the Exile
• The Exile → Christ

This is a long story of:

• promise
• kingship
• collapse
• waiting
• apparent silence

Advent lives in that tension.

The genealogy proclaims:

God’s promises may take centuries, but they are never forgotten.

Advent trains us to trust God when fulfillment feels delayed.

 

3. The genealogy tells the truth about humanity

This is not a “clean” family tree.

Matthew deliberately includes:

• Tamar – scandal and injustice
• Rahab – a foreigner and prostitute
• Ruth – a Moabite outsider
• Bathsheba – sin, abuse of power, brokenness
• Mary : the mother of Jesus.

These names should not be there by conventional standards.

Yet Advent says:  God does not wait for perfect people before He comes.

Jesus is born into human sin, not after it is cleaned up.  This is deeply Advent:

• light entering darkness
• holiness entering brokenness

 

4. Jesus comes as the fulfillment, not a replacement

Matthew opens with:

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

This signals:

• Abraham → promise to bless all nations
• David → promise of an everlasting king

Advent is not about something new replacing the old.
It is about fulfillment.  Jesus is the “yes” to every waiting, longing, and unanswered prayer in Israel’s story.

Advent reminds us: God finishes what He begins.

5. Joseph’s quiet faith prepares the way

The genealogy ends not with Joseph as father, but as:

“the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born”

This prepares us for humility, obedience, and faith without understanding of Joseph.  Advent forms us like Joseph trusting God’s work even when it disrupts our plans and making room for Christ in uncertainty

6. What this means for us in Advent

Meditating on this genealogy in Advent invites us to ask:

• Where am I waiting for God to act slowly, faithfully, quietly?
• Where has God been working across years or generations that I didn’t notice?
• Do I believe God can bring Christ into my imperfect story?

Advent does not ask us to be ready. It asks us to be available.

 

A simple Advent prayer from this text

Lord,
You came through long years of waiting,
through broken families and imperfect faith.
Come now into my own story,
into what feels unfinished and unresolved.
Fulfil Your promises in me,
in Your time.
Amen.