12 Days of Christmas 2017 - Day 8: [Guest Post] The Complete Christmas Story

4:46 PM Kaitlyn 0 Comments



The little girl slowly opened her eyes. The sun had yet to peep over the horizon. She was about to snuggle back into the covers when the faint smell of bacon caused her to sit up. Why is Dad making breakfast so early? We don’t have to do school… oh! Suddenly remembering the significance of the day, she leapt out of bed and ran to her siblings’ rooms.

“It’s Christmas, guys, get up!”

Three pairs of feet tumbled down the stairs and breathlessly wished their parents a “Merry Christmas!” before carefully examining the presents beside the tree.

“Eat your breakfast first, kids,” their mother said, smiling at their eager faces.

Breakfast was dutifully consumed, but there was yet one thing left to do before tearing into the colorfully wrapped presents. Picking up a Bible, their father led them to the family room where they all sat next to the fire and listened as he read the Christmas story.

This scene is one which replays every year at our house, as it undoubtedly does in numerous other Christian households. While we no longer exchange gifts, one tradition still remains: reading the opening chapters of Matthew or Luke. I heard the Christmas story so many times growing up, that I knew it by heart.

At least I thought I did.

Several years ago, I decided to read through the Matthew account on my own. To my surprise, Matthew doesn’t start with the familiar words, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise...” No, the opening verses of Matthew are:

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; and Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar.... 

The Christmas story starts with a genealogy!

That certainly seems like an odd place to start. But both Matthew and Luke clearly thought it was the perfect way to introduce Christ’s birth. Why? Because in reality, the story of Christmas started thousands of years before that dark night in a Jerusalem stable. Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:18-21 (emphasis added), 

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Before there was a Joseph and Mary, an Adam and Eve, or even a universe, God ordained His Son to come into this world, be born as a baby, then suffer and die for the sins of His people. Before the world existed, God planned for certain people to be born and for specific things to happen to them so that His Son would be born in the right place at the right time. Let’s take a moment to examine some of the individuals in Christ’s lineage, looking for how God supernaturally orchestrated events in their lives so the Messiah would be born.

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac… 
According to Genesis 11:30,
…Sarai was barren; she had no child.
Not only was Sarah barren, but both she and Abraham were nearing one hundred years of age. There is no physical way that Abraham could have begot Isaac! But did that prevent God’s promise from being fulfilled and the Messiah from coming to earth? No!

For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him (Genesis 21:2).

God hadn’t forgotten His promise. He was waiting for the right time, and when that time came, He gave Abraham a son.

…and Isaac begat Jacob…

Looking at Isaac’s surroundings, one could easily conclude that there was no chance of him even getting married! Isaac lived in Canaan, a land inhabited by heathens. Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac were the only godly individuals in the area. Not only that, but Isaac was forty years old! Who would marry him? Yet once again, the Lord’s promise was not thwarted. By a miraculous twist involving a wise servant, a well, and several thirsty camels, God provided a righteous wife for Isaac, and children to carry on the lineage.  

…and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren…

Jacob? He shouldn’t even be in the lineage of Christ! The birthright and all the blessings that came with it (along with the promise of being in the Messiah’s lineage) were meant for the firstborn, and that wasn’t Jacob. What caused the reversal of Esau and Jacob’s roles? Before the two were born, the Lord told their mother, 

Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger (Genesis 27:23).

As it turned out, Esau had no regard for his birthright and sold it to Jacob for a steaming bowl of red lentils saying,

Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? (Genesis 27:32) 

Thus, the Lord’s prophecy was fulfilled and Jacob was put in the lineage of Christ instead of his brother.

Those are only three example of how God used extraordinary and unusual circumstances to fulfill His purposes. Do you ever wonder why God allows strange and sometimes difficult events happen to us? I’m sure Abraham wondered why God made him leave behind his home and family to journey through a barren land filled with ungodly individuals. Sarah was undoubtedly disappointed when, after asking God repeatedly for a child, she was denied for many years. Isaac probably began to think after forty years that God would never give him a wife. Jacob may have become disheartened by his position as the youngest in his family, with no hope of a future in the family line. Yet the Lord caused these various struggles to occur in order that a greater purpose would be accomplished: the birth of Jesus Christ.

This Christmas, I encourage you to read the entire Christmas story. As you look at each of the names in Christ’s lineage, take a moment to flip back to the Old Testament and consider how God worked through the difficult circumstances of their lives. Then, take a moment to reflect on the trials of your life. You may not yet understand why they’ve happened to you, but know that God does everything for a purpose, and the results will be more glorious than we could ever imagine.


Gloria Kluth is 19 years old and lives in the suburbs of D.C. She was saved in her early teen years and has since devoted her entire life to the Lord. When not engaged in college schoolwork, she enjoys working on her two books, writing for her blog, Reflections, (gloriakluth.blogspot.com), memorizing Scripture, playing guitar, and reading books on Christian heroes, history, fiction, and Christian living.

A SoCal teen inspired to live intentionally for the glory of the Savior and to use her words as a way to pour into others and point them towards Him. Kaitlyn’s blog is the outlet for her love of both words and teaching as well as her passion for Jesus.

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