The Tree

I know that many of you are interested in your genealogies, your family tree.

I would need your ancestors come from, what kind of people were they when did they first come to the United States is very popular and no for people to try and trace their origin. Some of you have done that some to get very excited and come and tell me that your great great great grandmother was Scottish.

As if that would impress me all of my grandmothers are Scottish and grandfathers so there you are, but if you're like me, I wouldn't go too far back because I know some of my family and I can just imagine some of our ancestors living there in the Highlands of Scotland and the fishing villages and I'm sure some of them I know some of them had very checkered career so sometimes ignorance is bliss, isn't it. I know you want to think that far back you would related some very famous person or not. So far back you have some rich uncle somewhere who is going to fall if the perch and leave a lot of money to your I used to think about that and I just not going to happen so that it is, but our family tree genealogy does give us a sense of identity, doesn't it, a sense of belonging sense of who we are and so today I want to talk about the tree not a Christmas tree but a family tree and as we begin this new series in the Gospel of Matthew were going to read about a tree. No, this is the first gospel in the New Testament is mentioned first, it may be the earliest that is disputed by the scholars but for Matthew to begin his magnificent gospel with the genealogy with a family tree might not seem very exciting to you. I don't know what your reaction is when you had that were going to talk about the genealogy that Matthew wants us to understand who Jesus is, because his gospel is all about Jesus Christ and what is the genealogy of Jesus Christ who has ancestors that is particularly relevant for Matthew is writing primarily to Jews whose identity is very much tied to their ancestors and Matthew are converted text like terrible things courts more of the Old Testament in his gospel than any other of the gospel writers. In fact, in his gospel that out about 55 references to the Old Testament Scriptures, and that Matthew speaks of the fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures in the person and work of Jesus. 12 times and that the reason why Matthew may be placed first in the New Testament is because of the frequent links with the Old Testament, giving it a sense of continuity with the old testament.

So I ask you to open your Bible to Matthew think all of you should be able to find it. The first gospel in the New Testament. The first book of the New Testament, and if you don't have a Bible, let me ask you to reach forward is not too much of an exertion to, and open that Bible to Matthew chapter 1.

I'm going to read the first 17 verses. I did think of doing is a Congregational meeting and I thought some of these names are little difficult so on. Some of them. I'm going to pronounce them according to the Hebrew other work work. Other times I will give the American pronunciation. Another times are Scottish pronunciation so please don't come and tell me that I mispronounced the name I'm sure I have and Matthew, I'm sure will forgive me, but there it is going to be the first 17 verses of Matthew chapter 1 the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac and Isaac, the father of Jacob, and Jacob, the father of Judah and his brothers and Judah the father of Perez and Zada by tamer and parent is the father of Ezra Lorna Ezra on the father of Ron verse four and Graham, the father of the mentor that and amended the father of national and under Sean, the father of someone and someone the father of Lawrence by rehab and was the father of all bad by Ruth and Obed, the father of Jesse, and Jesse, the father of David, the king noticed Davis inscription verse six David, the king of Israel's greatest king and David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah and Solomon the father of Rachel Baum and Rachel born, the father of a by job in the barge of the father of Asaph and Asaph, the father of Jehoshaphat and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram and Joram, the father of the Messiah and desire. The father of Joe Pham and Joe found the father of Ahaz, and he has the father of Hezekiah and Hezekiah, the father of monastic administrative father of MO's and demos the father of Josiah and Josiah the father object to call not Jack Anaya and his brothers at the time of the deportation to Babylon. Verse 12 and after the deportation to Babylon recognize that was the father optional teal and chill till the father of their livable answers livable.

The father of a bayou would bayou the father of Elijah Kim and the liar came the father of Zoar and the sword the father of the sidewalk and Zada, the father of our king and became the father of LI and aligned with the father of Eliezer and Eleazar the father of my time and my turn, the father of Jacob, and Jacob, the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, all of whom Jesus was born who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David, were 14 generations and from David to the deportation to Babylon 14 generations and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ. 14 generations you look at verse 17 you'll see that there are three divisions of the genealogy.

Each of them comprising 14 generations and the commentators and scholars have wondered what was there any significance with this particular division and it seems clear that David, the king is the key to organizing the family tree is mentioned.

Of course David, the king of verse six and of great interest. I think the numerical value of David is 14 Hebrew.doesn't have Arabic numerals, so they alphabet the Hebrew alphabet also functions as numerals like us with English-language A-Z a would be 1B would be to see would be three and so on. And if you take the Hebrew consonants for David. You have a number of 14 and that so it may be that that is organizing it. What is true that there are 14 generations from Abraham to David, Israel's greatest king and there's 14 generations from David to the end of the Davidic line as they when Israel went into Babylonian exile and there are 14 generations from the exile until the birth of Jesus the son of David, so that maybe the reason is that maven trips but this central person of the family tree is clearly Jesus verse one the book of the genealogy of Jesus. Matthew begins his genealogy invested with Abraham. He begins with Abraham and moves forward to Jesus as we see in verse 16. If you look at Luke's genealogy which is contained in chapter 3. Look begins with Jesus and moves back to Adam. I Matthew there.

One of these great themes is to present Jesus as they came over going to see in a couple weeks ending on Christmas Eve when the wise men come to Bethlehem. They are asking really see who was born King of the Jews and Matthew is going to tell us a lot about the kingdom of heaven that Jesus is presented as the king underfoot is very important to know is that it is this one Jesus the King is he truly in the line of David Tingley tribe member going to see. Of course he is.

Look presents Jesus not so much as the king what is the Son of Man underfoot also gives his genealogy Matthew and John don't give the genealogy of Jesus say why is that we are interested in his genealogy while Mark is from Marley presenting Jesus as God's perfect servant, the one who came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10 verse 45 and as a side venture not interested in the person's ancestors.

When you hire someone you want to know other competent for the job. Can they do the job were not really interested in the family tree of the servant and so Mark doesn't contain the genealogy of Jesus. John of course is presenting Jesus as not so much the Son of Man but as the son of God and some of you will recall his magnificent beginning to his gospel John one verse one in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the word was God and God. Jesus is God. The word is God and therefore as the eternal God, there is no beginning to his being in that sense, he has no genealogy because he is the eternal God, as we see in John eight, he says, before Abraham was, I was but here Matthew begins his gospel with the birth of Jesus, and he ends his gospel in chapter 28 with Jesus ascension to heaven from beginning to end. Matthew is presenting the magnificent person the unique person of Jesus the King. It's all about Jesus. Now you noticed in verse 16 that Matthew has traced the genealogy of Jesus through Joseph and he does that to establish the legal rights of Jesus to the throne of David. He also mentions David's son Solomon so says here in verse 16 and Jacob, the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, all of whom feminine pronoun and all of whom Jesus was born who is called Christ a couple of weeks were going to see the Jesus and back is conceived of the Holy Spirit that Mary as his mother, but Joseph is not his father in a physical sense in the legal sense, just not enough. It physical sense, and so he begins the book of the genealogy verse one of Jesus were beginning in Hebrew, Jesus is Joshua the Lord saves in Greek, as we know it. It is Jesus the angel is going to say to Joseph in verse 21 is Joseph wonders how it is that his fiancée is pregnant and is not had sex with her. How can this be, and the angel is going to say to Joseph you shall call his name Jesus.

Why Jesus of all the names your call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins and drive Matthew's gospel is going to tell us the profound teaching of Jesus.

He's going to the fire to the spectacular miracles of Jesus, but the climax is the direct burial and resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is Jesus you ask. First of all my fears telling us is the Savior the book of the genealogy of Jesus. That's what the name Jesus means that the personal name given to Jesus. Not that the disciples ever call Jesus.

Jesus, in our narrative that if our to Jesus, but they would call him Lord Rabbi teacher but his personal name is Jesus. What does it mean and mean Savior because this is the central mission of Jesus member the word of the angel to the shepherds in Luke chapter 2. For unto you is born this day in the city of David walked a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Here is the message from having two hours on that first Christmas evening that the one who was going to be born in this barn and that little stable in Bethlehem is not another than the Savior of the world pipefitting then that is given this name Jesus Savior. He is than the central character of the gospel not only the central character of Matthew's gospel. Jesus is the central person of human history and of all of eternity. We determine human history with her. Something happened BC before Christ or ADD after Christ's central human history central for all of eternity. This is Jesus. But know this further. Matthew one verse one the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ that we often use Christ is another name for Jesus, we refer to Chrysler Christ Jesus or Jesus Christ.

But the word Christ is in fact not so much a name as a title in the Old Testament. It is Messiah. The Hebrew word Messiah, and he in Greek. It is Christ is the same thing. What does the Messiah mean, what does this word Christ mean it means the anointed one, that Jesus, in fact is God's anointed one.

He is the Messiah in the Old Testament prophets, priests and kings were anointed they were set apart for their space. Special tasks filled with the Holy Spirit that Matthew was making it very clear that the long promised Messiah of the Old Testament has now come and has come in the person of Jesus who is Jesus is the Savior yes but is also the anointed one is the Christ is anointed as profit because he comes to declare the truth of God's anointed as priests because he comes to offer himself as a sacrifice to God's anointed is came as he comes to conquer sin and darkness and rain supremely and eternally. Not only is King of the Jews. But as King of Kings and Lord of lords that is in Jesus the Christ. All of the expectations in the Old Testament. All of the prophecies. All of the types and shadows find the perfect fulfillment in Jesus the Christ in Matthew thrived his gospel is going to quote from the Old Testament is going to allude to the Old Testament to establish this one call Jesus is none other than the Christ, the Messiah, but furthermore, says Matthew again verse one the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David. If you're familiar with the Gospels, you know that during the life of our Lord as some good, some of the people I would show Dr. Jesus and say the son of David is the Savior is the anointed one, yes, but these, the son of David uses the important course of this is critical. Jesus is the son of David is on the royal line. He has a legal right to the throne of David.

He also comments that you notice in verse two he also comes from the kingly tribe of Judah. 12 tribes in Israel, Ruben was the eldest son, but he's not the kingly tribe, Judah is the kingly tribe and Matthew tells us in verse two in the genealogy, the Jacob is the father of Judah and his brothers. He comes from the kingly tribe, but furthermore, God had promised to David and what we call the Davidic covenant had promised David that David's kingdom would endure forever. It would be an ever lasting kingdom. Turn with me to second Samuel chapter 7 was the beginning of the Bible. First Samuel second Samuel chapter 7 and will greet a little bit of this Davidic covenant. This prophecy, which again is going to find its filament in our Lord Jesus Christ. Second Samuel, then verse chapter 2nd Samuel seven verse 12 the Lord is speaking to King David as a safety was Israel's greatest king when your days are fulfilled in July going with your father's i.e. when you die, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

Verse 16 in your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever here. That is a prophecy then that the ancestors of David that there is going to be this ever lasting kingdom that there will be this long for this king I king was never going to die and is going to rain forever.

David zeroed some hundred and 10 had prophesied of the Lord, sending forth from Zion from Jerusalem, a mighty scepter dissected of course is the symbol of his kingship and ruling in the midst of their enemies. So the Messiah as King finds its fulfillment in Jesus. He is Jesus Christ the son of David turned to look. Chapter 1 and read of what the angel says the young Mary as she's told that she is going to conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Jesus. Luke chapter 1 verse 32 Gabriel Angel to marry. He is Jesus will be great and will be called the sons of the most time. That is the son of God and the Lord God will give to him was in this the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. Matthew is telling us that this one who is born is the Savior. This one who is born as the Messiah is the son of David, so that is given to Jesus. This mighty mighty privilege by God that is given to him this kingdom, and of this kingdom there will be no end and also to John chapter 7, to see an interesting couple of verses in this connection, where the people are looking at Jesus on wondering who is he just a prophet to Lizzie. Could he really be the Messiah.

John chapter 7 verse 40 when they had these words. Some of the people said this really is a prophet.

Other said this is the Christ, the Messiah, but some said is the Christ to come from Galilee has not. The Scripture said that when the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem. The village where David was there saying well but were not quite sure. Actually, because the Old Testament Scripture said that the Messiah was going to be the son of David, and he was going to come from David's time and that this one comes from Galilee. Of course, you will remember the Lord Jesus was born not in Galilee. He was born in Bethlehem, which is the home timing of David Henson sometimes called the city of David and the Lord Jesus Christ. Although he was born in Bethlehem will see in a study of Matthew at that after the time in Egypt as they flee there to escape Herod a Joseph Lisa's family back to his home. Timing of Nazareth in Galilee. But the point is here in John chapter 8 verse 42 there saying the Scripture says that Christ comes from the offspring of David Wright, Jesus is in the legal line to the throne of David.

Jesus is the son of David, Jesus is the King is the Savior is the Christ is the son of David back to Matthew one verse one the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. In what way is he the son of Abraham.

Well we hear is because what I did in the genealogy. It begins verse two with Abraham, was a wonderful promise given to Abraham well under the Abraham a covenant. There were various promises given but one of them was this that in Abraham and this was said to Abraham before he had any children at all in Abraham all of the families of the earth would be blast Genesis 2218 Abraham in your offspring shall all the nations of the arts be blast not only all of the families of the earth, but all of the nations of the earth are going to be blast in Abraham.

But how is it possible that all of the nations of the world are going to be blast through Abraham's descendents was that possible answer Jesus the Christ comes not only in fulfillment of the Davidic promises he comes in fulfillment of the Abraham make promises which were given to Abraham because Jesus is the son of Abraham and when our Lord Jesus Christ comes this salvation comes not just to his own people, not just of the nation of Israel. Although the gospel goes first to the Jew first of Israel. The gospel also comes to the Gentiles it comes to the whole world. In fact, at the end of the gospel. Matthew is going to emphasize that with the words of Jesus when Jesus commands his disciples to go and make disciples. When he commands them to preach the gospel member.

He says you make disciples of all of the nations, something that we take very seriously at Calvary to go with the saving and transforming gospel to all the nations, I was that possible because Jesus Christ is the son of Abraham and because Jesus is the Savior of the world in our Lord Jesus Christ. All of the nations of the world are blessed clearly referred to his ancestors coming from the Middle East without his Jordan whether Scotland weathers America, whether it's Russia, whether it's South Korea or whether it's Brazil with his mom not Mongolia Mongolia. Thank you. Okay, I'm allowed a slight pause.

I mean why would you lie for that. That's childish life and that I think is childish life and that whatever is from where ever you from even in Kalamazoo, Michigan, that God salvation comes is not amazing you ever wonder that we can take this glorious gospel, not necessarily understanding all of the culture, but we can and we try Calvary through admissions program for short-term missions go trips.

Mission ration to take this message throughout the world. Why is it we do that people would say that's ridiculous. You're imposing a message on people who don't want to hear it. We believe it because our Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior of all the world and that God's love embraces the whole world and that love embraces you because our Lord Jesus Christ is the son of David, the son of Abraham and in him all of the nations of the earth are blessed. So what we find out from verse one is the Savior is the promised Messiah is the Christ becomes of the kingly tribe. The kingly line of David is a son of David and in fulfillment of the Abraham a covenant. All of the families in the nations of the art blast through them. What a tremendous beginning to the street you say John, you only got to verse one in the 17 versus here while we have no evening service. I heard so relaxed. I'm going to go through all these individual names you say thank you for them to take a drink of water. I want to say. As a result of these names that this tree, this amazing tree. This genealogy of Jesus Christ is not perfect. There are some very bad characters.

Some nasty people in this tree. 15.

Kings are mentioned in the genealogy. Some of these kings are very strong in their faith like David and Hezekiah and Josiah, but some very evil Kings mentions Redbone for example, it has mentioned in verse nine, who worship pagan gods Jack Anaya verse 11 Manas say verse 10 that you have read about Manasseh. He was a very evil man says in second Kings 21 the Manasseh.

He did more evil than the nations had done, whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel and moreover Manasseh shed very much in this and I'm like we would say he was a terrorist. We would say today, he is guilty of war crimes he committed genocide. Yes, it is the family tree of Jesus also the man of faith who are mentioned were far from perfect. Think of the very first one in verse two Abraham he's a great patriarch and is presented in Scripture is a classic example of living by faith is used in Scripture as the example pot Exelon's of faith of what it means to be a man of faith, but he also live the lie to the king of Egypt. He treated Hagar the wife of Ishmael very badly. And then there is Jacob verse two. Abraham was the father of Isaac and Isaac. Isaac, the father of Jacob yes is a wonderful man, so much so that God is referred to as the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob the great man of faith, but also a deceiver also cheats minded and get on well with his own twin brother Esau and Jacob was there and then there is David is on the very heart of the genealogy and ascendancy the genealogy is put together a structure drawing David's is mentioned in verse six. Jesse, the father of David, the king, yes, he was a king. He was a great king, Israel's greatest king brilliant man appoints the sweet psalmist of Israel and amazing man, a man after God's own heart man with a great passion for God a great love for God as you reduce arms yet when his men were at war. He stated home when times are beautiful woman sent for her name was Bathsheba.

She was about eight women married. In fact, one of David's mighty men, a man cold Uriah, who at that time was away from home fighting for King and country and David's get together with Toshiba commits adultery covers it up arranges for your Uriah husband to be killed, since of covetousness adulterating more dirt and treachery all committed by David, but here he is in the family tree and astonishingly, Jesus is described as the sun of David's. So here in the genealogy of Jesus. There is a liar, a deceiver and adulterer, a motor and much more. And then think of the woman mentioned in the genealogy surprising for women to be mentioned in the genealogy, but there's five of the mentions. First of all tamer verse three she is the first women mentions Judah, the father of Perez and set up by tamer we might've expected Sarah or Rebecca of Rachel.

These outstanding women of faith but did not mention but tamer is high. Surprisingly I she's laughed. If you know the story in Genesis. She's left a childless widow and she wants desperately to be a mother in the family of Judah. She's a Canaanite and she seduces her father-in-law into an immortal relationship and has gives birth to twins Perez and Zada which are mentioned here in verse three and a woman like that in the moral woman is in the genealogy of Jesus and then verse five that is rehab someone the father of boss by rehab lose rehab well when Israelites crossed the Jordan come into the promised land under the leadership of Joshua Moses, having recently died there going to conquer Jericho and there's a woman who lives their name is rehab she give shelter to some of the spies and puts Scarlet card from her window as a sign that she had placed their trust in God is a wonderful story. Yes it is but rehab is a prostitute looking.

Jim said she was a harlot, a Canaanite prostitute yet, there she is. Verse five in the family tree of Jesus and then verse five.

There is Ruth Boaz, the father of Obama or bad by Ruth who is Ruth Walsh of the Gentiles is a Moabitess she's a pagan Giamatti's bar is the descendent of rehab but in more jobs you put your trust in God she leaves the paganism behind that moves to Bethlehem and Elizabeth Lambert. She meets Boaz and so here is this converted pagan Ruth becomes the grandmother of Israel's greatest king David is not fascinating to read and then there is another woman. Matthew doesn't even give her name. Although we know who she is about six again Jesse, the father of David, the king and David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah was a man cheaper negotiators. Matthew doesn't even mention her name. Uriah is a Gentile who the Hittites. This is a very woman. Bathsheba who committed adultery with the king and here she is in the family tree of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham, of this family tree. Impressive.

Although this to read it is not perfect family tree as it and can I say, neither is yours.

What about your ancestors.

What about my but your family. You don't have to go very far back do you see dysfunction in sin and failure in our families and then fifthly there is Mary.

Verse 16 and Jacob, the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born who is called Christ. Here is maybe the chosen vessel for the birth of the Messiah. Yes, ungodly holy women greatly favored by God. Membership asks Gabriel.

How will this be, since I am a virgin.

He was a pure woman, not perfect, which is a pure woman hello will this be the answer is given, the Holy Spirit will come upon you marry the power of the most high will overshadow you therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the son of God, you can expect Jesus to be genealogy like that some of these people were very very wicked and even the great men and women of faith mentions who did great exploits for God, but flawed. Such failures and sins. In fact, every single person in this family tree is characterized by sin, and I don't know your family tree but I can say this every single person in your family tree. I did my family tree is sinful, far from perfect but no perfect families. No perfect marriages, no perfect people at Calvary church, all marked by failure all marked by sin. As you look back in your own family you realize your own family wasn't true. If you think of your immediate family, you realize that your family including yourself a far from perfect. But one name in the family tree is totally different this verse 16 and Jacob, the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Pro nine feminine to make sure that the physical father was not Joseph. He was born of Mary, Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born who is called Christ. Yes he's truly human but unlike all others in the tree. Unlike you and me this one Jesus, Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham is without sin and when in his grace when in the grace of God, our Lord Jesus Christ enters into this world I wanted to get this. He comes not as our judge not to point the finger at us not to condemn us, but that the world through him might be saved. That's why we relish. That is why we worship.

That's why so central in our worship in our life at this church that Jesus is the Savior because he is our only hope he is salvation. Not only does he bring salvation. He is salvation. His name is Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. And when our Lord Jesus Christ comes he doesn't share our guilt as a sinner but he bears our sin as a Savior becomes the safe, John Monroe, but he comes to say put your name right there, he comes to save you and me and when he dies on the cross, which is the means of our salvation. He dies as a substitute we call it substitutionary atonement. He takes my place. I deserve the day I deserve to die because of my sins. The wages of sin is that we think of the sins of all of the people in that family tree, all of them, without exception, some of them absolutely scandalous, but there they are in the tree as a reminder of what as a reminder of the grace of God that when our Lord Jesus Christ comes he comes into a world of darkness. He comes into a world of sin that he comes to us in our sin in our defilement in our darkness in our lostness and I find that doing you incredibly encouraging because here is away.

In fact, the only way I'd ever sin out of our selfishness about dysfunction if you want to call it that I do about darkness and lostness in difficult circumstances, and failure because this tree is a tree of grace. I meet people who tell me of their horrible lives and say their lives are messed up either parents were meson. The grandparents were messed up they are messed up their kids are messed up.

Everyone is messed up on the sometimes think I feel absolutely overwhelmed by the let's read the genealogy of Jesus. When the talk about people being messed up. You want to prostitutes in your genealogy. You want immorality you want an abuse of power. Like like David you one-liners want treachery. Here it is in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

No don't say your hopelessness.

Don't stay in your despair. Don't say I can change because of my messed up line for the messed up life that I was raised, then I was abused I was taken advantage of all of that may be true but into this world comes our Lord Jesus Christ, and the message is grace.

Paul writes the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us to understand that grace amazing Grace that saves righteousness like me. That genealogy is full of righteous Calvary church is full of righteous, but Christ comes. Amazing Grace and Paul right so wonderfully in Ephesians 2 by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourself, not what you can do is not of your own doing, not of something that you can boast about what is to be received as a gift based rooted in the work of Jesus Christ that tune into our imperfect broken messed up lives comes God's wonderful son and love and grace and redemption in transformation so that your sins are forgiven that the slate is wiped clean total forgiveness through receiving Christ as our Savior loves the chiefest of sinners but gives hope to messed up lives marriages and families because all all every single one of us is welcomed into the family of God, the most messed up person here is welcomed in the name of Jesus Christ. This Christmas message. Matthew is telling us about it as a message of hope, a message of change. A message of salvation question I have for you is you received the grace of God is why we get so excited about Christmas, is why when seminary reaches a Christmas not just a minister to people on the physical basis. Although we do that, not just have a wonderful day of music of the will have that but the very heart of it. And oppression is this is to tell people Jesus Christ has come to save into this world of darkness and the failure yes into your world and your family of failure and messed up people comes a magnificent lovely unique perfect Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, and he's given this beautiful name. We sang about it.

What a beautiful name for he will save his people from their sins. After ask you saved. You saved this I don't know if I like that word essential functions of biblical word rooted in the work of Christ. His name is Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Get salvation through joining the structure or any other church not going through baptism or thinking about supper or anything else and you can do. It comes at the foot of the cross we have this cross on the ceiling to remind us that at the center of it all is the cross of Christ that he comes to saving as few put your trust in Jesus Christ to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Your sins will be forgiven will receive the very life of God in you as you turn from your sin in the brace, the Savior, why would you do ask you to pray as I pray can you just open your heart and say Lord Jesus. I believe you are the son of God, sinless Savior who died on the cross for my sins and rose again.

Come save me, and cleanse me from my sin. You do that right now. Just as you sit there. The Bible says whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved today call upon that name.

That precious all-powerful name. The name of Jesus. And as you do that you will be saved because God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have ever lasting life. Believe in God son and you will be saved.

Father and the God we thank you for your magnificent plan of salvation we could never have devised this this genealogy reminds us that you take broken men and women just like us and you save them and you transform them. This gives us tremendous hope gives us tremendous courage. It gives us tremendous stability because confidences and you, the living God, who loved us and of your son, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us.

I pray father that each one can leave this morning. Not just singing, but also saying the Lord is my Savior and Lord is our salvation may be so, for your glory in Christ name