Scriptural genealogies—in addition to being a public Bible reader’s worst nightmare—have a bit of a reputation for being boring.

I can imagine that if Matthew had employed an experienced editor for his Gospel, that editor would have desperately tried to persuade him that starting with a genealogy was not the optimal way to grab the reader’s attention. “Not really going to keep people turning the page, Matty, is it?”

Matty, however, begs to differ.

“Wait, Tony, you don’t get it. Look at this genealogy. Isn’t it just outrageously intriguing?! I mean, what a family tree! And look where it ends up: ‘and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ’. Bam! That’s what I call an opening!”

And Matty is right about Matthew 1:16, of course. If we’ve read our Old Testaments and understand just how loaded with meaning that title is—“Christ”—we would recognize what an explosive start it is to the story of Jesus. What an astonishing claim to make right upfront!

In fact, all through Matthew’s Gospel it’s clear that he wants to present to us this Christ, God’s anointed king, who is inaugurating a new kingdom (3:2). ‘Kingdom’ is a word Matthew uses over 50 times, so, just on a pure word-count basis, it’s safe to say that the imminent new kingdom is a major idea he wants to communicate to his readers.

Matthew is, after all, doing exactly what his Christ instructed him to do as a disciple—an instruction Matthew records for us at the end of his Gospel:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (28:19-20)

That truth has only recently struck me: that Matthew is actually making disciples by writing his Gospel that concludes by telling us we should make disciples. Matthew has produced a written testimony about Jesus the Christ and his teaching, a testimony that has indeed now largely gone to “all nations”. (It’s an encouraging reminder for us here at Matthias Media of the power and reach of the written word for the task of disciple-making.)

But the other truth that also recently struck me is that Jesus didn’t just say to make disciples. He also gave his own brief summary of the announcement that is the core of the gospel we are to use in making disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (28:18).

There, in 12 words, is Jesus’ gospel summary that needs to be broadcast to our world. It is the announcement that Jesus is now the Messiah, the Christ, the king of everything. That’s what it means that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him.

Much to our joy and relief, part of the authority Jesus has is the authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:10; Rom 8:34; Jn 17:1-2). Forgiveness is a major corollary of that gospel announcement. And similarly he has the authority to judge (Jn 5:27).

But the essence of the gospel announcement is that Jesus now rules his kingdom in authority.

As we begin a new year of disciple-making, let’s not lose sight of—nor fail to proclaim—that crucial, life-giving gospel truth that Matthew recorded for us from beginning genealogy to final commission: this man, Jesus, is rightly called Christ (cf. Acts 2:36), and all authority has been given to him.