One more reflection on Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba being in Matthew's record of the generations of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Could it also be that Matthew is pointing past Joseph and Mary? Beyond the fact that the line of Messiah actually has mixed blood? But that the scandalous union, the inter-racial marriage, is not just about these women, but actually points to God moving his people to include, to unite with, non-Jews in their mission, and in their church? This is exactly how the gospel ends ("make disciples of all nations").
In fact, it's not just where God moves his people in mission, we'll find it's actually where he is present with his people...
What does this say about what we're called to as followers of the Messiah? Who are the outsiders in our world? Those we are quick to exclude or consider "unclean"? Who are those we'd be scandalized to find among us? Who are those Jesus is calling us to go to, reach out and minister to?
It's not a new plan God came up with, but it's at the heart of all he's ever been about in our world - let's join in this mission of restoring all things to unity in him.
Mark
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