CHAPTER 1
John Bells draws attention to the “impure” genealogy of
Jesus by emphasizing the 4 women whose names appear in Matthew 1, commonly
known as the “begats”. Have you heard
these stories before? Does it surprise you to learn these aspects of Jesus’
family history?
Do you agree with Bell that, with a better understanding of
Jesus’ real genealogy, we will be more forgiving of our own weaknesses and the
weaknesses of others?
I was surprised to read the "impure" genealogy of Jesus through the stories of the 4 women. I did look up the 4 women in Bible Gateway's 'All the Women of the Bible' and was pleased to find the stories to be true. My question has always been that, if Joseph played no physical part in the begetting of Jesus, how could all of his genealogy connect him and Jesus? There are many myths of immaculate conception within other traditions, so it doesn't upset me to assume this is just another of those. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteAs far as forgiving our own weaknesses and those of others, I tend to view all of us as a mistaken people. We are blessed to loved unconditionally by God. As we all have God within, there is none better than the next, and it seems presumptive of me to condemn another when we are the same and beloved in the eyes of God. I don't think that the genealogy portion of Matthew 1 aids me at all in being more forgiving; however, the stories are interesting.
ReplyDeleteSharon Sanderson preached an awesome sermon about those stories on Christmas Day.
ReplyDeleteMy own belief is that Jesus is the Christ because of his life, death and resurrection, quite apart from the stories/myths of how he was conceived. But there are such beautiful "truths" in the birth narratives that I won't dispense with them. Anyone else?
I take the "begats" with a grain of salt as the lineage is likely not even meant to be a straight-line biological one so much as as a mythic one. I like that it is messy and not a "pure" (ethnically-speaking) lineage. I also like the singling out of the 4 women, women who were outsiders yet played a large role in the Judaic narrative. Regarding the questions, my answer is similar to Chris's. I don't find the mention of the 4 women to affect my acceptance of weakness in me or any one else. If anything, the lineage underscores Jesus' humanity and situates him as a Jew coming out of the nation of Israel, a people who had been greatly humbled and were in the time of Jesus, living under Roman oppression.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure this lineage underscores Jesus' humanity; perhaps it does, but to me it just seems to echo books of the Old Testament in a manner of style. Had Paul emphasized Jesus' reality - his gifts, abilities, interests, childhood, upbringing, schooling, it would have been easier for us to relate to Jesus. But Paul wasn't around at the time of Jesus, so he interpreted the stories he'd been told. Thinking of Jesus struggling with everyday life and learning to rely on God (in the way we all do) through his youth, would have been more helpful to me. In his weakness is not only his strength but mine.
ReplyDeleteI knew of the begats and the humble lineage before reading this because it came up in another study/ discussion at RPUC. The 'begats' I had encountered earlier on my own as well when I began reading the Bible on my own. I had never thought of the 4 women that were highlighted, though I really appreciated that being pointed out. What an interesting thing to watch in the Church that must have been - having the women stand up and speak. I find hearing the women voices in the stories really does make Jesus more accessible. I remember Elizabeth speaking about the women at the foot of the Cross. I can imagine the horror (somewhat) of being in their position. I don't find it makes me more/ less forgiving of weaknesses in myself or others. What it does do for me, is create a profound appreciation for what we've gained because of the trials and sacrifices of others. The fat that we can have discussions and even disagreements on topics of theology is actually astounding when we consider what price Jesus paid .
ReplyDeleteAmazing to me that we have the names of these women - so many significant women's stories (like the Samaritan at the well) are anonymous. I always cheer for these subversive types who got around the "orthodoxy" of canon and tradition - but it makes me wonder who are the subversive voices today? Am I listening to them?
ReplyDelete