Matthew 1:5-6, 16 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
One of the most unfounded accusations is the Christianity has a foundation that is anti-women. This is not to say that there have not been some men in the past who have used the Scriptures to subjugate women. But Christian men have not been alone in this endeavor. To our shame, men have not recognized the different-but-equal nature of women since the Fall of humanity and the separation from God’s presence.
But the foundation of Christianity, as demonstrated in the life of Jesus and the Early Church, was one of raising the dignity and stature of women. One of the ways that this happened is the events in which women are involved. The most important events often have women mentioned or central to their narrative.
We see the centrality of women in this very mundane genealogy. There are four women mentioned in this genealogy, a very unusual thing for a listing in a male centric activity. The ancestry in Jewish culture was tracked through the men, not the women. Just look at all the men in this list.
But these four women all have something that is a little out of order, a little scandalous. Rahab was a prostitute who sided with Israel as they were getting ready to invade, betraying her own countrymen. Ruth was a widow of foreign birth who chose a new life in a foreign country and culture out of faith in her mother-in-law and her God. Uriah’s wife was the survivor of a wartime death, her husband having been set up for death by her soon-to-be second husband.
And then there is Mary! She is engaged, but not sexually active. But she becomes pregnant through a direct intervention of God through the work of the Holy Spirit. Her fiancé has every right to divorce her. The natural conclusion is that she has been unfaithful to him. But he doesn’t do this, because an angel intervened in a dream. Talk about a sketchy pregnancy.
But each of these women played a key role in Jesus’ lineage. Each came at a pivotal moment in Jewish history. Each played a role that shaped the future of a nation. And without their actions, Jesus would not have been born.
These women could have been left out of the official genealogy. Nothing would have been lost in the telling of the story. But they weren’t! The author of this account of Jesus’ life knew that part of the Gospel message was the elevation of women in society and in the Kingdom.
So by mentioning these women, the author is enticing the readers to ponder the role of women in the Church. It is an invitation to examine their attitudes toward women and bring them in alignment with Jesus’ attitude.
So as we read through the New Testament over the next three months, take note of the mention of women. What roles do they play in the unfolding of God’s purposes for His Kingdom? How do the authors lift up and emphasize these roles? How can we reflect this in our lives?
The Arnold Journey 