The Scandal of Grace

To ponder.

To reflect; to think about something deeply; often for a period of time.

I love how Luke tells us how Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart (2:19). She took time to dwell upon; to chew over; to hold closely and reflect upon.

Folks, we need to learn to ponder.

I think that’s often how God works…in our ponderings. It’s as we ponder…as we make space for God and His word…as we soak in His Word…as we allow its waters to lap over us; it’s as we marinade in it…allowing the flavours…the goodness…to seep into us. That’s when God works. Stirs. Nudges. Softens. Opens. Inspires. Leads. Corrects. Causes us to delight in him more.

Sometimes the result of pondering isn’t even a tangible thing – we haven’t arrived at an answer…or necessarily received clarity on something. But we just know that we have pondered…spent time in something sacred…holy…true…weighty. And that’s enough.

There’s something about soaking in the unknown…pondering the riches…the treasures of God’s Word…allowing our minds to wander and imagine and ask questions and picture and listen and embrace and wrestle.

Let me explain…

Matthew’s genealogy. The women…4 of them…5 if you include Mary. What are they doing there?

All the more intriguing when you know that in that culture it was the male line that mattered…that counted. So why the women?

Ponder it. Go on.

Read their stories. Wonder. Imagine.

Why Tamar and her sordid, x-rated story of incest?

What about the Gentile, prostitute Rahab - why’s she there?

And Moabite, Ruth? (And wait till your hear the origins of the Moabites! Lot’s daughter got him drunk and then slept with him. The resulting child? Moab! Yes, really!)

Uriah’s wife. Better known as Bathsheba. Victim of the sexual demands of a king. Not just any king. But King David. Taken advantage of. Let’s call it for what it was….abuse of position.  

Ponder these women…their stories.

Why are they there?

Matthew doesn’t tell us, so all we can do is imagine.

In our small group this week someone said the scandal of grace….that’s why they are there.

Because God is not just for good people. Or religious people. Or upright people. Or the “in” crowd. Or those who have it all together. Or those with power and influence and prestige. Or high performers. Or high-achievers.

Jesus came for sinners.

For broken people. Hard-hearted people. Life-weary people. Sin-ridden people. Morally bankrupt people. Desperate people. Down-trodden people. Abused people. Those declared unclean and unworthy by others.

You might not be a Tamar. Or a Rahab. Or have a dubious family background like Ruth.

Or maybe you are. Maybe you do.

Maybe you are all too aware of your heart. Your mind. Your motives. Your struggles. Your life. Your failings.

Is that what Matthew wants us to see…to wonder about…to marvel at? These women and their stories and all they represent?

And the grace of God that says to them “you are welcome in my Kingdom”.

“There is nothing too shameful about you.”

“Nothing too messed up.”

“Nothing too broken.”

“Nothing too crazy.”

I found myself thinking about Matthew too. If it’s true that the Matthew who wrote it is the Matthew…the Levi…of Matthew 9…the tax collector called by Jesus…then could it be that because Matthew had his own grace-story…his own story of knowing first-hand the love of Jesus breaking into his life….that Matthew, so overcome by grace, chooses to colour this family tree with the colouring pens of grace?

Why are these women and their stories here? We don’t know. I guess we can add it to our list of questions that we’ll get to ask one day.

But for now, enjoy the pondering.

Enjoy God’s Spirit inhabiting your ponderings.

Enjoy His Word being alive in you.