When Christmas was Almost Cancelled

Matthew summaries his genealogy by dividing the whole thing into three great periods:
a) from Abraham to King David
b) from King David to the deportation to Babylon
c) after the deportation to the Christ

Each period has great prophetic insights that hint more and more clearly that Christmas is coming, yet each period also has such human sin and indifference that the nation almost dissolves making Christmas a functional impossibility. Yet, God’s plan moves forward in both severity and mercy.

From the great light of the Abrahamic covenant to the decay of spiritual life of Israel represented in the life of Judah.

From the great light of the regencies of David and Solomon to the decay of not only their lives, but the decay of national spiritual life leading to the deportation to Babylon.

From the great light of the latter writing prophets to the failure to see that a greater atonement was necessary, even though they said a greater atonement and a new covenant was necessary.