As Christendom enters the season of Advent starting today, it is an opportunity for us to reflect on the birth of Jesus – Christmas -- and anticipate with hope His second coming.
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As Christendom enters the season of Advent starting today, it is an opportunity for us to reflect on the birth of Jesus and anticipate with hope His second coming. Yet this season of waiting is never passive. It is a time to explore powerful insights from the life and birth of Jesus. There are numerous timeless lessons we can draw from the life and ministry of our Saviour Jesus Christ. One of the lessons which is close to my heart is the way he challenged social structures of his time. He reached out to the darkest corners of human hearts and stepped deliberately into the edges of the society.
When Jesus was born in the Greco-Roman-Jewish community about 2000 years ago, the Jewish community was deeply stratified and, at times, discriminatory towards women, foreigners, disabled people, the poor, etc. It was marked by strict social and ceremonial boundaries. Historical records indicate that the Jewish Temple system reflected social distinctions of the time, with separate sections for different groups- separate courtyards for Jewish men, women, and Gentiles, mirroring the broader societal attitudes toward outsiders and marginalised individuals.
Yet, Jesus consistently reached out to those deemed "marginal," challenging the very foundation of these societal barriers. The revolutionary mission of Jesus is clearly spelled out also in the genealogy provided by Matthew.
The Genealogy of Jesus: A Declaration of Radical Inclusion
One of the claims of Matthew was that Jesus is the Son of David and the son of Abraham so he needed to substantiate his claim with solid genealogical list. The Jewish society was obsessed with pure lineage, yet Jesus’ genealogy includes people of unusual backgrounds:
1. All Nations Woven Into Christ’s Lineage
In the genealogy of Jesus, we see not only Jewish names but also names of non-Jewish women like Tamaz who was most likely a Canaanite woman; Rahab, another Canaanite and Ruth who was a Moab. It is likely that Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon was also a non-Jewish, a Hittite woman or at least closely connected to Hittite culture as she was married to Uriah, a Hittite man before getting married to David.
Including people of non-Jewish backgrounds indicates that Jesus was a Saviour of people from all backgrounds, teaching us that the Kingdom of God encompasses racial barriers.
2. Women in God’s Plan of Redemption
In genealogies of the Jews, listing down women was unusual. But there you have it, five women–Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary. Many of them came from complicated or socially “questionable” backgrounds. Their presence reveals a stunning truth: women, regardless of their social standing or life story, are embraced by God and are integral to His redemptive plan. Now, that is a profound truth to behold!
3. A Family Tree That Spans Palaces and Villages
On the one hand, the genealogy includes kings and political elites such as David, Solomon, and Hezekiah—figures associated with power, wealth, and national prominence. On the other hand, it also includes ordinary, humble individuals—people whose lives were closer to those of farmers, shepherds, and village workers, with no titles or social privilege attached to their names. This clearly teaches us that Jesus the Saviour is not just for the elite but for every class of the society.
4. Grace Working Through Imperfect Lives
The fourth kind of barrier we see broken down in the genealogy of Jesus is the barrier of sin. Matthew’s genealogy includes individuals with deeply flawed stories—patriarchs who lied or deceived, kings whose choices led to grave consequences, and others whose lives were marked by moral complexity.
Yet all of them found grace upon repenting. One good example of this is in 2 Chronicles 33:12-13, “In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God (NIV).”
By listing these names, Matthew shows us that God, in his infinite grace, sent Jesus as the Saviour to break forth all barriers, including the biggest one—Sin. Just as Jesus’ lineage embraces different nations, genders, and social positions, it also embraces people with deeply imperfect stories.
A World Still Creating Margins
Many people wish for a world of equals; a world where there is no stigmatization based on race, ethnicity, wealth, gender, etc. However, humans always manage to create social divisions where certain groups of people are excluded from the mainstreams of society. Every society has certain standards of what is ideal. Anyone outside these standards is pushed to the margins. These standards may differ from community to community and may keep changing with the change of time. But there is consistency in the fact that in every stage of human civilization, stigmatization and marginalisation have existed. Social hierarchies and marginalisation stem from humans’ pursuit to live in a structured society.
Just as Jesus entered a world marked by divisions, ours too is shaped by similar patterns. In our modern society, we have numerous groups who still face marginalisation and exclusion. People with disability, the poor, sex workers, refugees, ethnic minorities, victims of human trafficking, the elderly, those with mental health struggles, prisoners, single parents, widows, orphans, street children and survivors of abuse are some of those who are at the receiving end of stigmatisation.
Taking the Kingdom into Marginal Spaces
Advent is a season of great joy for the Christian community. In fact, for many, it is the most cherished season of the year. But the truth we often overlook is that, for some people, nothing changes. Even while standing in the midst of the season’s bright lights, some cannot see clearly because the darkness within them feels heavier than the light around them.
As always, even this year our streets, shops, homes, and churches will be cleaned, decorated, and lit beautifully. Our villages, towns, and cities arguably look the most beautiful during Advent. But Advent urges us to go beyond external preparation. The true light of the season must reach those whose hearts are weighed down by grief, loneliness, struggle, and pain. We do not need to go very far—these people are right in front of our eyes, in our churches, in our neighbourhoods, and in our towns and villages. We just need to take a moment to recognize them.
Sometimes festive seasons become seasons of great indulgence—we spend a lot on materials and our time runs mindlessly. Can we, this season, give a little more to those in need of our wealth, time, and prayers?
This Advent let us intentionally carry the light of Christ to those who are mourning. Let us notice them, reach out to them, sit with them, pray for them, and remind them that they are not forgotten. The light we celebrate is meant to heal, comfort, and restore.
And as we clean our homes and surroundings, may we also cleanse our society and communities of our exclusivist mindsets—the attitudes that shut people out, the judgments that push people to the margins, and the habits that keep us comfortable while others remain unseen.
Advent is not only about preparing our spaces; it is about preparing our hearts.
It is a call to open our eyes, widen our embrace, and let Christ’s light shine through us—especially for those who struggle to see it for themselves.
If you and I feel we are outcasts or little in any way, let us remember that in Christ we are cherished and beloved children of God. Can we also ask ourselves: Are we inadvertently creating margins instead of erasing them? Are we, who are called to embody God's radical love, becoming the dividers we are meant to counteract?
Jesus died for this world, and countless souls are longing for the touch of the Gospel. Jesus' genealogy shows us how societal barriers were torn. As we await the birth of this all-embracing saviour, let us follow Him into the places where those divides still remain and carry that same inclusive grace into the lives of those around us. Let us step into these marginal spaces, embracing Jesus’ compassion, meeting practical needs, challenging systemic injustice, and embodying God's kingdom values for every person. This is our mission: to take the Kingdom of God into marginal spaces.
As we journey through this Advent season, may this message resonate deeply in our hearts.
Erina,
Academic Dean,
Weshen Theological College,
Tuensang.