CHRISTMAS ROOTS!

The television mini-series ROOTS, which first aired in January 1977, was the most-watched TV show in US history. More than 36 million households or 51.1% watched it, giving it a Nielsen share of 71%. The movie was the dramatization of Alex Haley’s novel, Roots: The Saga of an American Family.

The release of the novel, combined with its hugely popular television adaptation, led to a cultural sensation in the United States. Because of Alex Haley’s work, an amazing interest in ancestral studies developed. Numerous books and movies received an overwhelming response from global enthusiasts, eager to learn of their ancestry or genealogy.   

The interest in genealogy did not begin with Alex Haley. That interest has been within human societies for thousands of years. Whereas for many of us in the West, ancestral studies is a fad, the same cannot be said of persons in the Middle East.

In the Middle East, one’s rank in the community was often determined by one’s ancestral history. That became obvious when Jesus was challenged by some from His community. They had just heard Jesus contend that He was the fulfillment of an Isaiah 61 prophecy. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. In other words, does his ancestral rank give him this authority (Luke 4:20-22)?

Both Matthew and Luke were very much aware of this cultural requirement of anyone claiming to speak with authority. Therefore, in seeking to establish that Jesus of Nazareth was truly the promised Messiah, it was necessary to trace the ancestral roots of Jesus. Both Gospel writers chose to establish the ancestral roots of Jesus very early in their presentations. Although there are noticeable differences in their approach, they were both fully aware of the significance of establishing credible ancestry.

These genealogies of Jesus serve as a grounding force in the narrative that roots the text into an historical context. Interestingly, one of the main differences between the mythological stories of the Greeks and Romans over against the Bible is that the Greek myths include fantastical creatures such as Centaurs, Cyclops, sphinxes, and the like.  

Biblical stories do not include any of these fictional characters, but rather seek to tell what actually happened. Genealogies establish human links and are rooted in reality. When you read through and grapple with the names and lineages of the genealogies of the Jewish people and of Jesus, you come away with the sensation that you are reading through a family tree, and you are struck with the fact that these were real people.

Genealogies in the Bible indicate to the reader that family identity and lineage is of utmost importance within the cultural milieu of Scripture. In providing the genealogy of Jesus, both Matthew and Luke were careful to provide credibility to their stories – credibility that was rooted in history and lineage. Those are the contexts in which they tell the story of the birth of Jesus.

Unlike other religions, Luke provided a story that was consistent with history, not legend. A legend is normally viewed as a story that evolved from within a community over a significant period of time. History on the other hand conveys information that can be verified either through artifacts or credible documentation. 

In his opening verses, Luke established that he complied with rules of historical analysis. (Luke 1:1-4). Like other Greco-Roman historians, Luke refered to the sources that were at his disposal and declared that upon careful examination of those sources, he was convinced that they were reliable. 

Furthermore, the birth of Jesus is consistent with Bible prophecy. In every other claim of virgin birth, no claim preceded the birth of the child. Claims were often made by supporters, after the birth and in an attempt to exalt the child born. 

Some 700 years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Isaiah made this prediction: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Matthew in his gospel, was convinced that Isaiah was referring to the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:22-23). He reinforced this conviction by providing a genealogy that placed Jesus in an ancestral setting, consistent with community requirements and the expectations of the prophets. 

It is the birth of that Jesus, I am celebrating this Christmas – not some mythological figure. Rather, one of whom Matthew said, “Mary will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). That Savior is the reason for the season of Christmas.