Read | Matthew 1:1–25
An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
Abraham fathered Isaac,
Isaac fathered Jacob,
Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers,
Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar,
Perez fathered Hezron,
Hezron fathered Aram,
Aram fathered Amminadab,
Amminadab fathered Nahshon,
Nahshon fathered Salmon,
Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab,
Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth,
Obed fathered Jesse,
and Jesse fathered King David.
David fathered Solomon by Uriah’s wife,
Solomon fathered Rehoboam,
Rehoboam fathered Abijah,
Abijah fathered Asa,
Asa fathered Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat fathered Joram,
Joram fathered Uzziah,
Uzziah fathered Jotham,
Jotham fathered Ahaz,
Ahaz fathered Hezekiah,
Hezekiah fathered Manasseh,
Manasseh fathered Amon,
Amon fathered Josiah,
and Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers
at the time of the exile to Babylon.
After the exile to Babylon
Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel,
Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel fathered Abiud,
Abiud fathered Eliakim,
Eliakim fathered Azor,
Azor fathered Zadok,
Zadok fathered Achim,
Achim fathered Eliud,
Eliud fathered Eleazar,
Eleazar fathered Matthan,
Matthan fathered Jacob,
and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary,
who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.
So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah, fourteen generations.
The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,
which is translated “God is with us.”
When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.
Click here to listen to the Scripture in ESV.
Notice Christ’s willingness to enter into the world in complete vulnerability. How does that expand your understanding of obedience?
Focus
View this work of art, Emmanuel / God has made a home within us, connected to Sunday’s sermon passage.
Observe what you see in the image, from colors to composition to recognizable elements, without trying to understand what it is supposed to mean. Then read about the work, using these details to help you interpret the work of art. Ask God what he might be saying through the image and listen for his insight in your thoughts and feelings; then take a moment to respond through prayer to what God showed you in this image. How might what God is showing you connect to the concept of obedience?
Commentary:
Annica Anderson is a multidisciplinary artist and is the Gallery Assistant at Christ Community – Downtown Campus. She painted this work as a part of her body of work, Indwell, which is a visual pneumatology.
Here are some of her reflections on this piece:
The boundless God of the universe chose to be contained in a clump of cells, sheltered and sustained by a woman’s body. If you’ve carried a child in your body for any length of time, you know how vulnerable that is, and how close it is. The most physically close relationship two humans can possibly have is that of mother and unborn child. God desires to be so close to us that he would choose even that level of vulnerability and proximity. He chose to trust a woman to carry him, to provide for his every need—physical, emotional, developmental, and more—from before infancy.
Beyond the incredibly profound truth that God desires to be that close to us is this: Jesus went through it all. We have a great high priest who is able to sympathize with all of us, even the tiniest of saints.
In early iconography, Mary is often depicted as the burning bush, a reference to the fact that God was within her, yet she was not consumed. In this piece, the burning bush refers to the unique relationship between Christ and Mary, and what it teaches us about the closeness God desires with us. He is not afraid to draw close. He surrounds us with his glory, yet does not destroy us.
You can see this work in person at our exhibit at the Four Chapter Gallery,“Body Forth,” which features the work of Annica Anderson, Pamela Willhite, and Ellie McGinty. All three artists explore the theme of embodiment. The exhibit runs from September 4–November 1, 2026, at Christ Community – Downtown Campus.
Art Source: Emmanuel / God has made a home within us, Annica Anderson, 2025. Used by permission. annicapaints.com
Pray
Pray for God to guide you into greater obedience this week.
Going Deeper
If you are also following the BibleProject’s One Story That Leads to Jesus reading plan, complete today’s reading.