Christmas - A Time for Family

Part 1

Many of us will have elaborate plans of how we’ll manage to get together with as many family members as we can on Christmas Day.  Brunch at one home, late lunch at another, church somewhere in the mix, a dinner at a third location, perhaps.

Family lineages, complicated and often problematic, are a feature of the Old Testament.  They show connection and the continuation of shared narrative.  One by one, generation by generation, people are listed, mostly men, sometimes women; no commentary of their fallibility is offered, just their place and their story (sometimes very briefly) are given.

The book “The Jesse Tree Story” by Grace Claus focuses on Jesus’ family of origin – His Godly relationship with all humankind and his human ancestral lineage. It offers a wonderful series of readings, reflections, and prayers for parents to share with their children.  As I mentioned in my Networks article earlier this week, I found it deeply engaging and I want to share it with you now.

Not all the Bible passages are produced in full, but you could still just use what is given here or open the family Bible together to read the whole passage and consider its context. 

Either way, I trust your family will enjoy reading the nuances of God’s weaving of the narrative of Jesus’ ancestors through the pages of the Old Testament.

Here are some of those readings and reflections – look out for Part 2 on Monday!

A Little Branch

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,

and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,

the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might,

the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

                                                                                                                                     Isaiah 11:1-2

Prayer: God, you give us hope. Thank you for giving us Jesus, like new growth in spring.  Would you help us to pay attention to him this Advent.  Amen.

A Family Resemblance

Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." 

So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

                                                                                                                              Genesis 1:26-31

Prayer: Wow, God! We feel pretty special that you made us like you. Would you help us get to know Jesus so that we can look more and more like him? Amen.

God's Garden

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. ...

Then the Lord God said, "See, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" -  therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken.

                                                                                                        A selection from Genesis 3

Prayer: Loving God, we're sorry for doing things that put a gap between us and you. Jesus, thank you for closing that gap when you died. We're excited to live with you in the city with a tree! Amen.

A Fresh Start

The flood continued forty days on the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters swelled and increased greatly on the earth; and the ark floated on the face of the waters. The waters swelled so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered; the waters swelled above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, domestic animals, wild animals, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all human beings, everything on dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died.

                                                                                                                         Genesis 6:11-9:13 

Prayer: God, you give the breath of life and you take it away. Would you fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we can live in a way that shows our love for you and our love for other people? Amen.

A Big Move

Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

                                                                                              A selection from Genesis 12:1-7

Prayer: Jesus, thank you so much for coming to earth so we can be loved by God. Will you help me do hard things sometimes so other people can know your love, too? Amen.

A Starry Sky

[God] brought (Abraham) outside and said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." And he believed the Lord, and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

                                                                                              A selection from Genesis 15:1-6

Prayer: God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, thank you for making me part of your family. I'm thankful that I get to be in the same family as Jesus. Amen.

A Special Son

Now [Jacob] loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him. ... So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.

                                                                                            A selection from Genesis 37:1-36

Prayer: Wow, Jesus! I'm amazed that you and Joseph were willing to love the people who hated you. I'm also thankful because it means that you love me and have saved me. Amen.

Ten Loving Rules

Moses convened all Israel, and said to them: "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances that I am addressing to you today; you shall learn them and observe them diligently. The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. Not with our ancestors did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today. The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the fire."

                                                                                   A selection from Deuteronomy 5:1-22

Prayer: God, will you remind me of how much you already love me? Help me remember that following your rules doesn't make you love me. Amen.

A Red Rope

The king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house." But the woman took the two men and hid them...

She came up to them on the roof and said to the men, "I know that the Lord has given you the land ...

The Lord your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below. Now then, since I have dealt kindly with you, swear to me by the Lord that you in turn wilt deal kindly with my family". ... The men said to her, "Our life for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when the Lord gives us the land. ...

"Tie this crimson cord in the window. ... If a hand is laid upon any who are with you in the house, we shall bear the responsibility for their death." ... She tied the crimson cord in the window.

                                                                                                 A selection from Joshua 2:1-21

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for bleeding so that I can live. I'm glad I can be part of your family. Amen.

A Loving Rescuer

Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working.

See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Now wash and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do." [Ruth] said to her, "All that you tell me I will do."

                                                                                                  A selection from Ruth 3:1-4:12

Prayer: Jesus, thanks for taking me and making me part of the wonderful family of God. Amen.

An Underdog King

The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." ...

Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these." Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." ...

He sent and brought [David] in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him.

                                                                                         A selection from 1 Samuel 16:1-15

Prayer: Sometimes you surprise me, God! You like to use people whom the world doesn't think are important. Help me remember that you want to use me, too. Amen.

A Shepherd-King

The Lord said to [David]: "It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel." So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

                                                                                               A selection from 2 Samuel 5:1-5

Prayer: King Jesus, thank you for having the heart of a shepherd! Would you help the leaders of our cities and nations be as kind and gentle as shepherds, too? Amen.

A Living Temple

So I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord said to my father David, "Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name."…

Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon, concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, obey my ordinances, and keep all my commandments by walking in them, then I will establish my promise with you, which I made to your father David. I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel."

So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

                                                                                                      A selection from 1 Kings 56

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for being the temple, the place where I can meet God. By your Holy Spirit, I am connected with God. Help me sense you with me today. Amen.

A Big Risk

When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this." Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish."

                                                                                                            A selection from Esther 4

Prayer: Jesus Christ, thank you for making death less scary. Help me be brave so I can help other people. Amen.

A Bright Light

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 

Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. 

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

                                                                                                                                        Isaiah 9:2-7

Prayer: God of light, I can't wait for you to come. Would You turn the world's darkness into light? Amen.