When Matthew wrote his Gospel, he wrote it pointing to Jesus as the Messiah (Hebrew word) - "the Anointed One of God" - chosen by God to fulfill the Old Testament predictions of a deliverer. To add authenticity to Jesus as the Christ (Greek word), Matthew traces Jesus' lineage right up to Abraham. That He is of Davidic line and of the tribe of Judah is clear in the genealogy (Mt 1:1-17).

In the Genesis reading, we have Jacob giving his blessings to his 12 sons. To Judah he says, "You are a lion's cub ... the scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff ... until He comes to Whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is His" (vv 9-10). It is to this passage that is seen the deliverance of God by a king from the house of Judah. Therefore in Rev 5:5 we read, "Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has triumphed."

Christians believe that the Messiah is Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah. Indeed, it is awesome to know that the birth of Jesus, our Saviour, was one carefully planned by God through the centuries! As we ponder upon this and wait for Christmas to arrive, may we be filled with peace and joy.