A list of names might seem like an odd way to begin the greatest story ever told. Yet Matthew's Gospel opens precisely this way—with a genealogy that traces Jesus' family tree through generations of saints and sinners, kings and commoners, heroes and scoundrels. Far from being a dry historical record, this genealogy tells a profound story about God's character and His plans for humanity.

Ultimately, this genealogy isn't primarily about the people in it—it's about Jesus Himself. Like the opening chapters of Genesis, Matthew is telling us about a new creation, a new beginning for humanity. Jesus' supernatural conception by the Holy Spirit, legally recognized through Joseph's naming of Him, mirrors and fulfills the pattern set with Abraham and Sarah: God doing the impossible to keep His promises…