Pastor's Corner: Christmas - It's who you know

During the recent mid-term elections, I noticed an interesting political tactic: Question your opponent’s Montanan heritage. Here’s how it works: Candidate A was born and raised in Montana. He is a “local” and by virtue of his growing up in Montana is touted as the candidate most in touch with Montana values. Candidate B, on the other hand, was not born and raised in Montana. He may have lived here many years and have a history of state service, but it was expressed he would not be the best candidate because he did not have the heritage. He was an “outsider.”

What’s that got to do with Christmas, you may ask? The culture Jesus grew up in was much like ours. The Jews of the first century were very much tied together by heritage. Most had lived on the family land for multiple generations. They had grown up together, gone to school together, and married the girl next door. They had shared values, shared history, and shared experiences. They were locals.

Those of us who know the Christmas story may think it begins with Caesar’s edict for a census which caused people to return to their ancestral homes to be counted. That’s what took Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. Matthew, however, begins with the genealogy of Jesus. He traces Jesus’ lineage all the way back to Abraham, the father of the Jewish faith. That’s quite a genealogy!

These are the “begats.” In small towns, we know about who begat whom. Small-town folks know who’s related to whom, what their family history is, and which side of the tracks they grew up on. “Sure, I know Bob. He’s related to my cousin by marriage and was two years ahead of me in school. He was a track star.” In small communities we are better known by our heritage than by our accomplishments. That’s why Matthew starts with a genealogy. Our genealogy is our pedigree and often trumps our resume. “It’s not what you know, but who you know.”

So, you would think Jesus, the Savior of the world, would have a stellar pedigree. He’s be a first-class local. But not so for Jesus. His family history is filled with all kinds. Women were not usually included in genealogies, but Jesus has five in his background, one was known as a harlot and another got pregnant by her father-in-law! King David is an ancestor of Jesus and that should improve things, but David is recorded as the man who took his friend’s wife (and had his friend killed. Not David’s finest moment). Several were outsiders to the Jewish faith, which was an issue. Why does Matthew expose all this dirty laundry? To show that God is not as concerned about pedigree when it comes to saving mankind. Through the Christmas story, God opens the door to everyone regardless of class or sex or religious background. The Christmas story spreads the net wide. The shepherds were lower-class Jewish working men. The wisemen were upper-class Gentiles. Mary and Joseph were regular people. Jesus was a baby born in a manger.

Jesus redefines what it is to be a local. Everyone is welcome at his table. Anyone who calls Jesus friend becomes part of the family. Can you imagine a Christmas dinner at Jesus’ house? That would be one wild group of people! Instead of a genealogy, Christians look to their testimonies, “How did you come to know Jesus?” “What has he done in your life?” Each Christian has a shared story with Jesus at its center.

I have recently become the chaplain at the Northern Montana Care Center, and I have found there is a family here too. This is a family with the shared story of declining health but who make the best of each day. As one volunteer pointed out, “There are a lot of smiles here.” Everyone here is a local no matter what their background.

The Christmas story is this: There is not one person who cannot be touched by the love of God. There’s not one person who is outside the grace of Jesus. Christmas is the invitation to become part of the family. It’s a gift available to all who will receive it. Jesus is in the business of taking outsiders and turning them into insiders, and that sounds like good news.

Pastor Tim Zerger

Chaplain Northern Montana Care Center