Unexpected: Five Women in the Lineage of JesusSample

Introduction

Do you ever look at something and wonder about its backstory? From the antique vase you picked up at a garage sale to the locket you inherited from your grandmother, everything has a story. Some stories are simple, straightforward, fairy tale–like in their simplicity. But others are tangled, layered, and complicated.

And when it comes to people, backstories can be even more complex … and often challenging.

When you think of Jesus, the Son of God and creator of the world, maybe you mostly think about His divine backstory—how He came down from heaven and lived out His ministry on earth. But have you ever considered His earthly backstory, the people who make up His lineage?

Because Jesus’ story on earth starts long before He was born. It begins in the wombs of women whose stories are complex, messy, and often unexpected. But beneath the layers, they all have something amazing in common: they had a place in God’s amazing plan to bring Jesus into the world.

In the coming days, join us as we dive into the lives of five incredible women—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary—who made up Jesus’ lineage and discover how they made a mark not only within their lifetimes but also in the years and years to come.