What Jesus Did! 'The People Lost in the Credits' — Matthew 1:11-17

Saturday, January 4, 2025

Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon).
After the Babylonian exile:
Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel.
Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel.
Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud.
Abiud was the father of Eliakim.
Eliakim was the father of Azor.
Azor was the father of Zadok.
Zadok was the father of Akim.
Akim was the father of Eliud.
Eliud was the father of Eleazar.
Eleazar was the father of Matthan.
Matthan was the father of Jacob.
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.

— Matthew 1:11-17 NLT

Key Thought

In every great movie, there are the marquee stars that are almost as important as the motion picture show itself. Then, at the end of the movie, many credits are listed for actors and "hands" who have helped make the movie possible. They are what I call the "people lost in the credits." Without them, the movie would not be the same and very likely would have never been possible to make. Similarly, the names in this list of folks in Jesus' genealogy are not as familiar to us as many of the names in the earlier part of the list. Yet each person had a role to play and was a vital link in the coming of God's Messiah. While our role may not seem very large compared to others, God can make it important if we will give ourselves to serve him faithfully. To God, we will not be "people lost in the credits" but his children and therefore siblings of God's great and holy King!

Today's Prayer

Marvelous and majestic God, you obviously love variety since you created so many different kinds of almost everything. I know that you uniquely made me and gave me a specific purpose and part to play in your divine drama of redemption. Please, dear Father, help me value my place in your plan whether it seems large or small and help me to fulfill my role faithfully. I don't want to envy the ability of others or minimize the gifts you have given me. May I bring you praise by living out the purpose you made me to accomplish. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

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Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 1:11-17 NLT — All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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