Do you ever feel as if life would be easier if you were just born into a different family? Our own family can seem odd at times. Today we hear names from Jesus' family.

Some family members are great persons from Jewish history such as Abraham, David, Solomon and Josiah. The family tree of Jesus, however, also includes people that you may not expect.

Rahab was a prostitute (Joshua 2:1). Tamar had an incestuous relationship with her father-in-law (Gen 38:18). King Ahaz burned his own child as a sacrifice to a false god (2 Kings 16:3). Matthew does not hide the fact that these people are also a part of Jesus' family.

While sin and unhealthy behavior are present in Jesus' family, God's grace is at work as well. The bad choices and problems of some family members is not an obstacle to God's grace. God works through this far from perfect family to bless the world with something extraordinary - the birth of Jesus.

What is the greatest imperfection of my family? In what way have I seen God's grace at work in my family?