I have never wanted to be an archaeologist, although I can readily appreciate the thrill that comes when you discover an unexpected treasure. I unearthed a musket ball that dates back to the civil some years ago (or to be more honest the dog did) and I found it sobering to appreciate that the last person to touch it had been alive over three hundred years ago.

I have never really been interested in delving into my family tree either, although I have often thought it would prove fascinating. But ‘fascinating’ hardly begins to describe the way I have felt since a friend began to trace my wife’s family tree. In fact, it has proved nothing less than an exhilarating adventure, for it has been a journey that has taken us right back to the arrival of the Normans in 1066. And to my delight, it would seem that I fell in love with, and married a member of the royal family, someone who can trace her descent back to the Conqueror himself!

Now some of her ancestors achieved huge success in life. For example one was an ‘All Black’ and another ended up a renowned novelist. Others were a little less salubrious of course. One was a pirate! But whatever their achievement or contribution to life, they are all links in the long chain that has brought us to where we are today.

It’s the same with Jesus. Lots of people seem to struggle with the claim that He was a real historical figure, but if we take a look at Matthew’s account of His life we will see quite quickly that He was firmly rooted in Jewish history. Indeed right at the beginning of his gospel, Matthew provides us with a list of Jesus’ ancestors that dates right back to the time of Abraham who lived some 2000 years before. Now for most people, this genealogical list tends to be a bit of a turn off. They skip it and turn to the story of Jesus’ birth itself. But that’s a mistake because this list of names has much to teach us about the God Jesus claimed to reveal.

There are plenty of skeletons in his family cupboard of course, including four women who had rather shady sex lives. But perhaps the most astonishing character in the whole list is a king called Manasseh. Astonishing, because if you were looking for a man who stood for the opposite of everything God wanted, it was this twisted Jewish king. In fact, the Old Testament writers tell us that he even went so far as to practice child sacrifice. In other words Manasseh was the very opposite of Mr. Nice Guy; he was more of an Old Testament Pol Pot. And yet when he asked God for a second chance He gave him just that.

Some people find stories like this offensive. They can readily identify with the man who said: “It blows me that God could do this for a jerk like Manasseh. I didn’t want him to get off easy. It boggles my mind to think of the scope of this man’s depravity. The families he destroyed. And then he gets hemmed in, starts feeling bad and repents. And God forgives him. And not only does he forgive him he gives him this throne back.”

But in the final analysis, that’s what Christmas is all about. Jesus came to help people who want God’s help because they know they have messed up. I was with someone like this a couple of weeks ago. She is a former prisoner and drug addict. I stress ‘former’ because she now works for the Salvation Army and has just been appointed prison chaplain.

And if I am honest, I have to admit that it is stories like this that remind me why I should be celebrating Christmas.

Rob James is a Baptist Pastor broadcaster and writer who currently operates as a church and media consultant for the Evangelical Alliance Wales. He is available for preaching and teaching throughout Wales and can be contacted at [email protected]