December 10 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Matthew 1:1–11

Devotional

When we read through the genealogy of Christ, we notice two things: first, the fallen state of man, and second, the way of suffering for the Surety. With much shame the fathers and mothers are mentioned out of whom Christ came forth. We see Tamar, for example, who squandered her honor in immoral idolatry. We see Rahab, who before her conversion was known as a public sinner. We read of Bathsheba, whose husband fell on the battlefield and to whom she was unfaithful.

What shameful stains are found in the genealogy of Jesus Christ! In this book we also read of Joram, who had his own brothers killed as he came on the throne. There is Ahaz, who ordered the temple to be closed, which conveyed the message to do away with God and His service. It speaks of Manasseh, who before his conversion tempted the Lord daily with his godlessness. There is David, who sinned after having received grace. What disgraceful stains we see in this genealogy of Jesus Christ!

We see the fathers and mothers of the family tree of Jesus Christ. Does this not show the deep depravity of man? Would you not be ashamed if Joram was your father and Rahab your mother? We would rather hide such an ancestry from the people around us. And yet, here lies our ancestry as well, because it is the generation of fallen Adam. All this evil is in our flesh and blood. We don’t take after a stranger! By having received discerning light from above we learn to say, “It is not Adam or Rahab, neither Manasseh nor David, but it is I.” Who can escape this sad reality? When the poisonous serpent has bitten, no human remedy will be to any avail.

Here we have an important advent question: “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean” (Job 14:4)? The answer from man’s heart should be, “Nobody, no one from all the billions of people of all ages can make the unclean clean.” Have you ever wept over the fact that we are depraved by sins and transgressions? In our past, we have unclean ancestors, and we ourselves are unable to do anything but bring forth that which is unclean. All of mankind lies in this massive condition of being lost in Adam. The conclusion of our lives must be the personal confession: “I am this Adam.”

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.