Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Send Me An Angel" (Scorpions)

Have you ever had a different perspective from others?  That artistic masterpiece just looks like squares and triangles to you, or that Pulitzer Prize-winning author makes very little sense to you.  Perhaps you scratch your head when that film wins an Academy Award, or for that matter, you don't even know any of the films nominated!

Or say, for example, you think that all rock bands have at least 1 ballad in them that can be a hit, while other folks hold to the genre stereotype that headbangers are just that, bands that can only produce screaming guitar and quacking drum, rock.  In the annals of history and your humble blogger's opinion, your perspective would be proven correct time and again.  Especially when it comes to those rock bands who have a bit of a harder edge, but show their actual musical prowess and skills by occasionally not rocking you like a hurricane.    Case in point...

"Send Me An Angel" - the September 17, 1991 single from the 1990 album Crazy World by the Scorpions

The 1975 single "In Trance" would be the first action the world would have from the German band Scorpions. (that's 47 years ago for those keeping track).  Their first single to chart in the US was, 1982's "No One Like You", peaking at #65.  (What?!!  surely that song went higher...oh and yeah...that one WAS 40 years ago...).  Including today's feature song, which peaked at #44, Scorpions only had 6 top 100 singles.  One of those was the band's biggest hit,  the #4 smash, "Winds Of Change" (oddly enough, ANOTHER ballad), from the same album as "Send Me An Angel".  

From some perspectives, Scorpion's lack of chart success would deem them as a band that never made it.  The reality is, however, that this band is one of a few bands from the '60s (yup, the band formed in 1965, you do the math...) that continues to tour and make records (2022's Rock Believer being their most recent release) with 3 of their members being in the band for over 40 years.  Founder Rudolf Schenker (rhythm guitar, backing vocals)(1965), Klaus Meine (lead vocals)(1969), and Matthias Jabs (lead guitar, backing vocals)(1978) all continue to have the consistent sound that made Scorpions a powerhouse of '80s rock.  

"Send Me An Angel" would be the final cut released as a single from the band's eleventh studio album, 1990's Crazy World.  It was the follow-up single to the aforementioned #4 hit, "Winds Of Change".  With its top 100 performance, "Send Me An Angel" solidified itself as one of the signature tracks from the album.  The 1994 Black Sabbath album, Cross Purposes, features the same burning angel on its cover as the Scorpion's "Send Me An Angel" single.  To this date, neither band has commented on if the image's usage is significant or if it is just coincidental.  Perhaps it's an instance of the less the bands say, the more it gets talked about?  C'mon Rudolf...inquiring minds want to know...  Maybe it's one of those answers that can be proffered by a wise man...or perhaps a tax collector and a doctor...

The Gospel of Jesus according to the tax collector, Matthew, chapter 1, verses 18-25 New American Standard Bible/The Amplified Bible/King James Version of the Bible/English Standard Bible parallel

The Gospel of Jesus according to the physician, Luke, chapter 1, verses 26-38 NASB/AMP/KJV/ESV

Wow!  Those are some pretty miraculous passages wouldn't you say?  Even more incredible is the fact that for all practical purposes, the Jewish folks hadn't heard from God in over 400 years.  Chronologically, we find that Gabriel visits Mary and tells her what is about to happen.  Mary pondered and was amazed at the revelation.  Then after it is discovered that Mary is pregnant, an angel visits Joseph to assure him that everything was happening as it was planned.  God was involved in Mary's pregnancy, and in fact, had caused her condition to fulfill prophecy (Isaiah 7:13-14 NASB/AMP/KJV/ESV).  The angel instructed Joseph that his inclination to divorce Mary was the wrong action and that it was ok for Joseph to be married to Mary. 

In the above passages, we once again see the perspectives of Matthew, the tax collector, and Luke, the physician.  If you recall, Matthew's genealogy of Jesus followed Joseph's lineage, while Luke's followed Mary's.  Matthew followed the taxpayer, while Luke followed the patient.  Once again we see these perspectives played out as Matthew tells of Joseph's angelic visit, and Luke tells of Mary's. 

While the Bible never indicates that Mary shared the story of her angelic visit with Joseph, one would imagine that upon the discovery of her being with child, some explanation would have been communicated to the betrothed.  Please don't get me wrong, Joseph isn't the bad guy here.  Imagine how you would feel if the woman to whom you were engaged came to you and said..."I'm pregnant and God is the Father..."  One would imagine a shock to the system that would challenge everything you had ever held dear, including the prophecies of the Old Testament, with which Joseph would have been familiar.  

The differences in Mary and Joseph's reactions to the news of Mary's angelic visit were also contrasted in Matthew and Luke.  Mary wondered and pondered.  Joseph resolved and evolved.  Mary wanted to do the will of God, Joseph wanted to do the "right" thing to preserve Mary.  Because of Mary's prior angelic visit she had information that Joseph didn't have or didn't believe until his heavenly visitor told him to "chill out".  (My translation...)  Their perspectives were different because of the timing of their visits.  

Have you ever had a situation where you changed your opinion as time passed?  I have.  The way I view the world at my current age is very different than how I viewed it in the 80s, the 90s, or anytime up to the present.  What is different? 

"As the years pass you by hear this voice from deep inside  It's the call of your heart
Close your eyes and you will find Passage out of the dark..."

No, I haven't had an angel visit me, but I have had God's Holy Spirit draw me to a restorative relationship with Him.  Because of that, I have different perspectives regarding the information and topics that form my worldview.  Don't get me wrong, I have had my George Bailey "God, send me an angel" moments. ("George Bailey's Prayer" - 1946 - Liberty Films production)  In retrospect, I was asking for the things in my life that were contrary to His will, to be gone and for His presence to be felt at my weak moments.  God hadn't gone anywhere.  He remained consistent.  My sin, however, had caused a straying from the pathway that caused me to become lost and desperate.

Please don't misunderstand me.  I believe there are angels.  I believe they work in a different realm than what we experience, a spiritual realm if you will.  I believe if God chose to send an angel to communicate to someone visibly or audibly, I would believe their story because the Bible tells of those kinds of interactions and I believe the Bible.  The difference is what are the actions taken after having such a visit.  Are they God-honoring or self-promoting? 

What about you, friend?  Have you ever had an experience that made you wonder and ponder?  Did you ever have an experience that caused you to resolve and evolve?  Have you ever had a moment in your life where you cried out to God 
"Send me an angel"?  God has sent someone better than any Clarence.  His name is Jesus.  He was born to Mary of our passage today and had as his earthly father the carpenter named Joseph, both of which had encounters with angels who guided their different pathways to one narrative.  A narrative we will continue to explore in the coming weeks.  

Just remember, at those times in your life when you feel like crying out, "Send Me An Angel", God has already sent Jesus and He can be the way out of your dark...He's waiting and saying "Here I Am"...

"Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM by Loving You,

randy

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Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Who's Johnny" (El Debarge)

Welcome to Summer 2022!  The temperatures are going up and in our part of the United States, so is the humidity!  Be careful out there and HYDRATE!!!  With the advent of schools dismissing for the Summer break, vacations abound! 

In some of these vacation destinations, you fall witness to something that perhaps you don't see in your town, the Town Crier!  Oyez, Oyez, Oyez! (loosely translated as O Yes! O Yes! O Yes!). This person serves as an added "flavor" to the attraction and draws the attention of everyone within hearing distance to what is about to be proclaimed.  In our time, they serve as an entertainment add-on to the venue you may be visiting and usually advance the story of the attraction in an accent not native to the time, nor sometimes the region.   

As enjoyable, informative, and sometimes startling as these announcers of announcements can be, they are an anachronism in our world.  Even in our vacation spots, they seem somehow out of place as we enjoy social media, news, and entertainment at the touch of an app.  They do however harken us back to an earlier time.  A time before our phones told us to stand up, take steps or give us the weather for the day.  They serve the purpose of transporting us, with their usual British accents, to a time and a place we've never experienced and only heard tales about from history books and Revolutionary War films.

Town Criers also cause us to pause and reflect on our past.  Those who are older (I count myself among them more and more each day) reminisce about earlier times (no I wasn't around in the time of the Town Criers, despite what my grandchildren might think...).  Times that by today's standards seem simpler, but in reality, had similar complexities in which we dealt.  Ah yes, the Town Criers might even cause us to harken back to say...1986 and a very important question... Oyez, Oyez, Oyez!

"Who's Johnny", from the July 14, 1986 album El Debarge

Today's featured song zoomed up the charts in the summer of 1986.  This was a great summer, as we've mentioned before, she said "Yes", and we said "I do" that same summer, 36 years ago, but I digress.  "Who's Johnny" went all the way to #1 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles Chart, and peaked at #3 on the Hot 100.  It was helped along the way by the major motion picture release, Short Circuit, as "Who's Johnny" was featured prominently in the film and became the moniker for the protagonist robot "Johnny 5".   Short Circuit - "Who's Johnny" scene  

The single also was the debut solo effort from El Debarge who had been fronting the family band, Debarge ("Rhythm Of The Night"), all through the early 80s.  "Who's Johnny" would launch El Debarge into 5 Grammy nominations and partnerships with R&B elites.  Unfortunately, his solo fame would also put him in the realm of drug and alcohol abuse.  His addiction became so bad that El Debarge served 13 months in prison for crack and paraphernalia possession.  He recorded a final studio album aptly titled Second Chances in 2010 and in the course of the tour to support the album relapsed.  Seemingly clean and sober, El Debarge made an appearance at the 54th Grammy Awards as he was nominated in 3 categories that year.  El Debarge is the only of the family Debarge to receive a Grammy distinction of any kind.    "Who's Johnny" remains his biggest hit to date.  And for those who like the demographic...El Debarge is 61.  

The Gospel of Jesus according to the physician Luke, chapter 1 New American Standard Bible/The Amplified Bible/King James Version Of The Bible/English Standard Version Of The Bible parallel

The Gospel of Jesus had been foretold throughout Scripture in the Law, Poems, and Prophets of the Old Testament.  These prophecies include a "forerunner", a "Town Crier" if you will for Jesus when He comes.  Isaiah 40:3-5 NASB/AMP/KJV/ESV, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/,  Malachi 3:1 NASB/AMP/KJV/ESV  In many ways, Isaiah and Malachi set up the question for Luke to answer...Who's Johnny?

Luke tells the birth narrative of John the Baptist.  He parallels this with the birth narrative of Jesus.  In light of Luke's background as a physician, this makes perfect sense.  Luke later will join Matthew, Mark, and John as they detail the way John the Baptist fulfills the prophecies of Isaiah and Malachi.  As we visited last week, John the Baptist's life and ministry are some of the moments that all four of the Gospel writers place in their telling of the life of Jesus, the Messiah.  More on that to come...keep reading!

So who's Johnny?  Luke tells us that he is the cousin of Jesus.  His folks were Elizabeth (Mary's older cousin, and a descendent of Aaron, Moses' brother, the first high priest) and Zechariah, a priest who at this time was serving in the temple in Jerusalem.  Later in Luke's 1st chapter, we learn of the pregnant Mary visiting her pregnant cousin Elizabeth.  Upon their meeting, John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeth's womb as he encountered Jesus in Mary's.  I guess his heart was in overdrive; it's great to be alive!  

We later hear of the ministry of John the Baptist.  All four Gospel accounts detail his preaching in the wilderness and that many were coming to God's kingdom because of it.  He received his nickname because he was immersing people in water as a sign of their changed life and as a witness to their redemption from their sin.  All of the Gospel accounts also attest to the ultimate act of obedience, as Jesus presented Himself to John for baptism as well.  The Gospel of Jesus according to the tax collector Matthew, chapter 3 NASB/AMP/KJV/ESV, The Gospel of Jesus according to the evangelist Mark, chapter 1 NASB/AMP/KJV/ESV, Luke 3 NASB/AMP/KJV/ESV, The Gospel of Jesus according to the fisherman John, chapter 1 NASB/AMP/KJV/ESV.  

As they should, the Gospel writers then take on the account of Jesus' life.  But we're not quite done with John the Baptist yet.  If I may borrow a television term, John the Baptist takes on a recurring role in the Gospel of Jesus.  As Jesus' popularity grows the ruling class takes notice.  Jesus' ministry is so impactful that it reminds Herod Antipas of his nemesis John the Baptist who had continued to preach after Jesus' baptism.   Because of the growth Jesus' ministry is experiencing, John's followers become fewer as more folks flocked to Jesus.  

As John continued to preach, his criticism of the lifestyles of the powerful drew the ire of Herod.  John paid particular attention in his commentary on Herod's marriage to his brother's (Phillip) ex-wife Herodias.  Herod throws John into prison but does not kill him immediately due to John's unceasing popularity with the people.  Soon we see the evidence that playing games is a part of human nature.  Through acts of treachery and a seductive dance by Herodias' daughter, (Salome according to Jewish Historian Josephus), Herod succumbs to the dance and subsequently tells the dancer to request whatever she desires.  I guess she smiled in her special way...  Her desire is to have John the Baptist's head on a platter which Herod provides.   Matthew 14:3-12 NASB/AMP/KJV/ESV, Mark 6:17-29 NASB/AMP/KJV/ESV  

The life of John the Baptist fulfilled prophecies from the Old Testament and assists the launching of Jesus' ministry in the New Testament.  The Gospel writers were familiar with this itinerant, locust and honey-eating preacher.  This "voice of one crying in the wilderness" lived where he preached and wore clothing made from camel's hair with a leather belt.  His proclamations of the coming of the day of the Lord resonated with those familiar with the Old Testament prophet's writings and paved the way for Jesus' to fulfill His mission in this world, that of doing the will of the Father.  

So that's Johnny.  His profound impact is made through seemingly a small portion of Scripture.  How do we know his impact is profound?  We hear of one other account of John the Baptist.  Matthew records that from prison John hears of Jesus' burgeoning ministry and wants to know if Jesus is the Messiah.  Jesus tells them to go and tell John all that they had witnessed.  This testimony would be enough for John to know the answers to his questions.  Jesus then goes on to make a statement regarding John that He never made about anyone else.  "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."  Matthew 11:7-15 NASB/AMP/KJV/ESV

That my friend is the best answer ever to the question about today's Town Crier..."Who's Johnny?"

'Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM by Loving You,

randy

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Tuesday's Musical Notes - "An Old Fashioned Love Song" (Three Dog Night/Paul Williams)

Have you ever noticed how the best days seem to be layered?  Here's what I mean.  The day begins with just the right breakfast foods that get you going for the day and then on top of that, you find that you are running early.  Your absolute favorite song comes on as you start the engine to head for the day's journey. 

The day continues and one thing after another falls into place as your day gets made time and again with each passing event building on the other until it all concludes with the ovation of the day being a grand evening meal, entertainment of your favorite variety and topping all off with a good night's sleep.  I confess that these kinds of days are rare, yet when they do they might remind you of music, especially the kind that has lots and lots of layers, well, like harmony...

"An Old Fashioned Love Song" the November 1971 single by Three Dog Night from the album Harmony

and

"An Old Fashioned Love Song" the 1971 single by Paul Williams from the album Just An Old Fashioned Love Song

"An Old Fashioned Love Song" was originally intended for The Carpenters.  Written by Paul Williams, who penned the previous Carpenters hit "We've Only Just Begun" (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "We've Only Just Begun" (The Carpenters)).  "An Old Fashioned Love Song" was turned down by Richard Carpenter after Williams had offered this as a follow-up. (The Carpenters would later perform the song on an episode of The Carol Burnett Show, The Carpenters on The Carol Burnett Show)  

Williams then offered "An Old Fashioned Love Song" to the band Three Dog Night (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Black And White" (Three Dog Night), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Liar" (Three Dog Night)) who recorded it for their 1971 album Harmony.  Oddly enough, if you listen to the song closely, most of the Three Dog Night version is sung in unison (one-part) as opposed to the harmony of the Old Fashioned Love Songs (three-part) on which the song is based and the album is titled.   

In the same year, Williams would record a cover of the song for his album Just An Old Fashioned Love Song, an album filled with Williams' songs that were hits for other artists.

Three Dog Night parlayed their new song into a #4 hit on Billboard's Hot 100.  This venture into the top ten marked the 7th for Three Dog Night which was finding its stride in 1971.  As with many bands, success and excess took their toll and by the 80s Three Dog Night had seen its day.  

They have 12 studio albums (7 gold and 1 platinum (Three Dog Night) that spawned 11 top ten hits from 1969 to 1974.  Danny Hutton (lead vocals) continues to tour with the band with a current lineup that still includes enough quality vocalists to lay down that three-part harmony.

During the time of Three Dog Night's popularity, the term harmony has been a catchphrase for the cultures of the world attempting to find peace and balance.  It seems that just about the time warring factions find common ground, another conflict breaks out.  This is not the original plan.  The plan was for harmony, in this context, as defined by dictionary.com, as agreement or accord.  

We find the following musical connotation equally applicable:   any simultaneous combination of tones.  You see friends harmony has to have a couple of things to be...well, harmonious.  First, it must have more than one voice.  It may have any number of voices, but it must have at least 2.  Secondly, there must be an agreement in those voices.  Even if the agreement comes up with a note cluster or conversation that is dissonant or discordant.  Even if there is disagreement, there can still be harmony.  Please see Jazz music for examples...  Finally, there must be gaps that are filled.  Harmony portends the filling up of a chord in music, or perhaps the completion of a task or thought in a nonmusical group scenario.  The same can be said of Scripture, God's Word.  This harmony can be found specifically in The Gospels.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New American Standard Bible/The Amplified Bible/King James Version Of The Bible/English Standard Version of the Bible parallel

Okay, we definitely are out of order now.  If we stay with our chronology of the Bible through which we have been proceeding that should have been a passage from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John right?  We will certainly get to those specific stories, but for today, we must get approach them as a harmonious narrative of Jesus' life.  To read one without the other would make the story incomplete and the portions that are really important would belie the emphasis that they need and deserve.  What we see in Paul's letter to Timothy is that all of Scripture is necessary for our preparation to do the works God has for us when we believe in Jesus' restorative sacrifice.  This harmony of the Bible flows through its pages and becomes more evident through the Old Testament passages of Kings and Chronicles, as well as, through the Prophets where many of the stories are reinforced and complete accounts are filled in by differing writers.  

There is no place where this harmony is found better than in The Gospel accounts of Jesus' life.  As we saw last week with Jesus' ancestry, each of The Gospels provides portions of the story from the perspective of the individual writer.   These perspectives are necessary to see the completion of the chronicle of Jesus' life, sacrifice, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.  

As each Gospel author unpacks their account of Jesus, you find some differences.  Now let me be clear.  The Bible as we know it is free of error.  Tuesday's Musical Notes holds this truth as one of its founding standards.  But we must admit that there is criticism foisted on The Gospels as being disparate from each other.  THIS IS NOT THE CASE.  The Gospels provide a complete story, and yes some of them repeat instances in Jesus' life.  As we've stated before, repetition in the Bible is a tool that God uses to reinforce those important points.  He wants us to get this part of the story.  The below chart puts what is known as the "Harmony Of The Gospels", these reinforced stories in a visual format.  And besides...who doesn't love a good chart?

As you can see, the stories from each of the Gospel writers follow Jesus' life.  While they take a different path, they have intersections, harmonies if you will, that bring the story to a point of reinforcement and then go on to the next portion from that writer's perspective.  All of these stories about Jesus are true and as you can see, 1) the story of John the Baptist, 2) Jesus'miraculous feeding of 5000, 3) Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, 4) Jesus' experience and prayers in the Garden of Gethsemene, 5) Jesus' crucifixion, and 6) the accounts of Jesus' empty tomb all combine to be seminal events in the life of Jesus from which we must learn significant truths.   Through these times we can see where the backgrounds of the writers provide character to the story and provide the perspectives that multitudes can easily understand and perhaps relate.  

There are other portions of Jesus' life that are told by Matthew, the tax collector, Mark, the evangelist, Luke, the doctor, and John, the fisherman.  These narratives provide the additional layers and nuance, the harmonies, to the emphasized stories.  These divergent accounts of the life of Jesus build on the harmonious portions to become the framework by which every person since Adam and Eve can have restoration to God.  

The best part of all of this is that wrapped around The Gospels is the sound of someone promising they'll never go.   Ultimately, it is an Old Fashioned Love Song comin' down in four-part harmony.  One I'm sure He wrote for you and me.

'Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM by Loving You,

randy

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Tuesday's Musical Notes - "The Long And Winding Road" (The Beatles)

Welcome to the next decade of music and musings that we affectionately call "Tuesday's Musical Notes"!!!  Last week's edition of the blog recapped the previous decade of The Notes and some highlights from those years.  If you have a few minutes, check it out in the archives.  We saw as we went through the score of the past decade last week, that our incredible readers are as diverse as the musical tastes we attempt to serve up each week.  It is astounding to us that Tuesday's Musical Notes is read all over the planet. THANK YOU!!!  The unity that can be found among the nations as we share our likes and perhaps dislikes of specific songs, styles, and artists is an inspiration that things can be made better in our world.  The first decade of writing Tuesday's Musical Notes proved that there is still a multitude of music to cover and an infinitude of ideas to explore. 

It also proved that the pathway to all of this discovery can be, well...a long and winding road.  Take it, Paul...

"The Long And Winding Road" - the May 11, 1970 single from the motion picture soundtrack Let It Be by The Beatles

The stories behind the breakup of The Beatles are as many as the #1 hits the band had.  One thing that is never up for dispute is the impact that The Fab Four had on popular music in their own time as well as ours.  For a group this gifted, it is a shame that they couldn't find common ground in success.  The documentary Let It Be (Let It Be movie trailer) chronicles the recording of the last studio album The Beatles would make as a band.  

"The Long And Winding Road" was the only single released from the Let It Be soundtrack.  It was released one month after the official breakup of the band.  Its B-side, "For You Blue", proved popular enough on Billboard's Hot 100 to cause the label to designate it as a double "A" sided single for future pressings in the United States.  "The Long And Winding Road"  soared up the charts and secured The Beatles their 20th and last #1 hit on the Hot 100.  The song's reaching the #1 spot also set the record for the number of chart-topping singles by any band.  Something The Beatles achieved in a frame of fewer than  6 1/2 years.    

McCartney has said that the inspiration for "The Long And Winding Road" came from the Highlands around which Sir Paul had purchased a home.  When writing the song he thought of Ray Charles (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Georgia On My Mind" (Ray Charles/Willie Nelson)) recording it. McCartney's thoughts came to fruition when Charles performed the song with The Count Basie Orchestra in 1971. "The Long And Winding Road" - Ray Charles and The Count Basie Orchestra from the 2006 album Ray Charles + The Count Basie Orchestra: Ray Sings, Basie Swings  This version was released posthumously and is compiled from a series of recordings done during those sessions.  

A demo version of the song was recorded during the studio time that would become The Beatles album.  McCartney offered the song to Tom Jones (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "It's Not Unusual" (Tom Jones)) if Jones would release it as his next single. Due to contractual obligations with his label which already had a single ready to release, Jones would decline.   

"The Long And Winding Road" saw quite the adventure after its release.  Paul McCartney was so incensed by the final production of the single by Phil Spector that he cited the song as one of the reasons justifying the split of the band.  

Spector was known for creating a trademark "wall of sound" in the albums he produced and he held nothing back when placing his touch on Let It Be and "The Long And Winding Road".  Beatles historians tell us that the band had hoped that Let It Be would be a reaffirmation for them and an opportunity to "Get Back" to the sound that had brought them into prominence.  Unfortunately, the opposite happened as the creative differences that they had experienced recording The Beatles, also known as The White Album, resurfaced and escalated as the production of Let It Be progressed.  

The movie and soundtrack both proved to be very successful.  The album received a Grammy in 1971 for Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special.  Even though he had openly expressed his concerns about the record and its "over production", McCartney, with his wife Linda but notably none of the other band members present, accepted the Grammy.  (Grammy Awards 1971 Beatles win for Let it Be)

McCartney released an alternative mix of the album in 2003.  Let It Be...Naked features most of the album without Spector's additions.  Give a listen to "The Long And Winding Road" from this record...we report, you decide:

"The Long And Winding Road" - from the November 17, 2003 remix album Let It Be...Naked

For many months now, Tuesday's Musical Notes has been on its version of "The Long And Winding Road".  We have attempted to chronologically tell portions of the greatest story ever related to mankind.  We now come to the next mile marker in the road and with excitement, we proceed...welcome to The New Testament!

The Gospel of Jesus according to the tax collector Matthew, chapter 1 New American Standard Bible/The Amplified Bible/King James Version of the Bible/English Standard Version of the Bible parallel

It is interesting to note that Matthew is one of two writers of the Gospel of Jesus to include an ancestral catalog. Luke is the other, yet he doesn't begin his Gospel with the genealogy and the genealogy itself differs slightly, following David's son Nathan as opposed to David's son Solomon's lineage. The Gospel of Jesus according to the physician Luke, chapter 3, verses 23-28 NASB/AMP/KJV/ESV 

The differences in these genealogies stand to reason given Matthew's history as a tax collector and Luke's background as a physician.  Matthew would have followed the line of Joseph because in the culture the men of the house were the responsible party for business, property, and of course taxes.  Luke, as a doctor would have been more interested in the nature of Jesus' birth from the medical standpoint of Mary being the vessel for birthing the savior.  

For those of us who are visual learners, here is how the disciple's account looks:

As you can see, to get to this point, we have followed the long and winding road of The Old Testament and its narrative of God's chosen people.  But the story of Jesus begins even further back than Jacob's name being changed to the nation God would choose to tell the world about Him, Israel.  

Genesis 3:14-15 NASB/AMP/KJV/ESV

From this point, you can tell that the stories that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are about to tell will have their bends and turns to get to the culmination of the epilogue.  That story has at its beginning an encounter we talked about early on in our pilgrimage through the Bible. (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Blame" (Collective Soul))  From that point on, the battle for mankind's soul was on and the combatants were taking their positions.  

In Matthew and Luke's listing of Jesus' heritage, there are a few things we must notice:

1) Jesus' lineage included gentiles.  That's right!  Jesus had ancestors who were NOT considered "chosen".  All of those who preceded Jacob (more than 20 generations) did not have the Jewish moniker to tout as a part of their heritage.  This fact indicates God's intention to draw all men to Himself and that no one would be left out of His eternal kingdom.

2) Women were included in the genealogy. Matthew 1:5 NASB/AMP/KJV/ESV This is astounding given the male-dominant culture of the day.  AND both of these women were some of the gentiles mentioned above.  Rahab was so well regarded she is found in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews.  Hebrews 11:31 NASB/AMP/KJV/ESV

3) This list is made up of flawed people.  Noah got drunk and had relations with his daughters.  Abraham lied.  Later on, some of Israel's worst leaders were in Jesus' genealogy.  Take a look at the genealogy list again.  Do any of those names ring a bell for the wrong reasons?  Even David was an adulterous murderer! The kings that followed him were not much better, some were far worse and yet God uses them to see His plan fulfilled in the birth of Jesus.  Friend, if God can use these folks, He can use you.  The question becomes, will you be used as a servant who is loved or as one of the aforementioned combatants who will experience God's wrath?  God can and will use you regardless of which you decide to be.  

As you can see, the path to The New Testament has truly been a long and winding road.  Regardless of its twists and turns, its bends, and its steep climbs, it has led us to the door of Jesus.  In truth, the remainder of The New Testament also leads us to the door of Jesus.  More on that on future Tuesdays.

So to what door does your long and winding road lead?  There are only 2 choices.  Jesus or not Jesus.    Taking the "not Jesus" choice guarantees you separation from the God who created you, receiving His wrath and punishment, and securing your destination in a place that was never intended for mankind, but for those who rebelled against God.  This is a place without God.  Please let that sink in.  This is a place without God.  Even though our world has been perverted and distorted by our own hands, there still exists beauty and love because God is in control of it.  In the "not Jesus" place, there is no beauty or love.  This is a place without God.  Choosing Jesus guarantees restoration to the God who created you, loves you beyond all measure, and is creating a new place for you to be with Him.

As we begin our exploration of the life of Jesus, allow this portion of the road to change your direction.  Allow the bends and turns to transition you.  Allow this road to lead you to Jesus' door.  

'Til Tuesday

Loving HIM by loving You,

randy

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