Outcast.

Have you ever felt outcast? Sadly, often we as chronically ill, disabled, and isolated know what it means to be outcast or rejected whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Disabled at age 3, I had experienced rejection some in school, especially after a move to a new city from a small town. Yet, I had not truly experienced it until I attended a Christian conference a few years before the pandemic. Why is the time-frame important? Wearing health masks was not common, yet I had to wear one in crowds due to my immune system being compromised due to medications.

Arriving late at the conference due to my work schedule, I was standing quietly in the hallway as one session ended and another was to begin. Something odd happened. People came down the hallway and crossed to the other side when they saw me. I smiled at them and tried to make eye contact, but just as a rock in a river will make the water part, my presence made them walk to the other side of the hallway and hurry past. Finally, one of the organizers of the event bravely came up to me. She greeted me and explained that people were fearful of me, thinking that I was wearing the mask due to being contagious. Fear made them walk on the other side. Wow. How poignant. The experience did affect me. It hurt. I was so thankful to have experienced this as it allowed me to know and experience rejection in a new way. (I also decided then that perhaps I should write on my mask, “It’s not me, it’s you.” Or, I could have drawn a silly face on the mask or something. I am sure that would have helped. )

Why am I sharing this story as we are talking about Jesus this month? Jesus loves outcasts.

We are going to start our study in Matthew 1. I can hear the groans now as Matthew 1 contains the genealogy of Christ. (For those who listen to the audio, I will not be reading the chapter and attempting all those names.) However, this genealogy contains something that may surprise some. It contains not only women who would not have been included in the genealogy in that time period, but women who would have been seen as outcasts. Let’s take a look:

Matthew 1:3 – Thamar’s (Tamar) story is found in Genesis 38. Tamar prostituted herself with her father-in-law. Wait, what? And she was in the line of Christ? Yes. Jesus loves sinners.

Matthew 1:5 – Rahab (Rachab) was referred to as Rahab the harlot. Joshua 6 tells the story of how this harlot believed in the God of Israel, saving the lives of the two spies and those of her family. Wow. Her faith was so strong that she is listed in the “Hall of Faith” in the Bible, Hebrews 11:31. We could do an entire study on her life. God loves outcasts and has a purpose for their lives.

Matthew 1:5 – Ruth is also mentioned in the lineage of Jesus. She even has an entire book telling her story in the Bible. She was a foreigner who believed in Jesus. God loves all people.

Matthew 1:6 – Bathsheba had been the wife of Urias, but David the king desired her. Their story is found in 2 Samuel 11. Jesus loves sinners.

Why are their stories important? From the start, God is showing that He loves all people. Jesus’ life shows even in his lineage that outcasts are included.

What does that mean to you? How does that change your perspective? your life? Jesus loves us even in our isolation, even when others may reject us.