In this second week of Andy Stanley's series, "The Unexpected Christmas", we see a contrast between every religion in the world and Christianity. Every religion in the world with the exception of Christianity teaches an approach to God based on "what I've done." People who bought into this teaching assumed an attitude of self-righteousness in order to justify a relationship with God. Others realized that they can never meet this standard and have distanced themselves from God. That was the story of Matthew, the tax collector. Matthew, though understood the teaching of Jesus. Mankind had access to God not based on what they had or had not done, but based entirely on what had been done for them. This was a brand new view and one which was destined to turn the world upside down. This was a new paradigm for mankind.
In this week's lesson, Matthew illustrated this concept by underscoring another surprising member of the linneage of Jesus. In Chapter One of Matthew, we see the reference to Judah and his brothers. Judah had eleven brothers. These brothers became the foundation for the fathers of Israel. In this week's lesson, we reference the story of Joseph. As you recall, Joseph is stripped of his multi-colored coat by his brothers and sold into slavery. Judah, one of the brothers that appears to be a leader of the brothers, influences the sale of Joseph to Egyptian traders. Later, Joseph becomes a great savior of his people and of all people in the midst of a great famine. He would make a perfect forefather of Jesus. However, God chose Judah.
Judah and Joseph are the only two brothers of the 12 brothers who have a story in the Bible. Judah gets one chapter in the Bible and his story goes from bad to creepy. Judah has three kids, one of whom married Tamar. The older son of Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord and died. The second son of Judah also did evil in the sight of the Lord and died. Judah promises to take care of his son's widow, for in that day and time, a widow who was not cared for by her husband's family was left destitute. Tamar, however, dresses as a temple prostitute and Judah hires her for her services. As a pledge for his payment, Tamar asks Judah for his seal and his staff. Three months later, when Judah is informed of his daughter-in-law's illegitimate pregnancy, he is prepared to enforce the Mosaic law requiring the death of such a woman. Tamar reveals to Judah her possession of the signature seal and the staff and Judah quickly changes his mind about the death penalty.
Judah became a part of the family line that brought Jesus into this world! Judah was a picture of you and me. He was a picture of someone who deserved one thing and got another. He is the picture of a person learning that God's grace is available even to people who have not made themselves available to God. Joseph gave to Judah (and all his brothers) the opposite of what they deserved. God chose Judah through whom He brought His son into this world.
Never has anyone ever been expected to come to God on the platform of their own righteousness. That has never been the plan. I'll never be at peace with God because of what I've done or what I haven't done. Throughout history, God always chose the broken. This Christmas, let's be thankful that we don't have to approach God based on what we have done or what we have not done. We get to approach God based entirely on what He did for each of us. The GIFT He sent to us is on that special night in history is an unspeakable GIFT. O, Holy Night!
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