Matthew begins his gospel with a genealogy and we ask ourselves why?  He means for us to see that this child is the CHILD THAT THE WORLD HAS BEEN WAITING FOR! He means for us to recognize that the Old Testament threads of promise – the longings and the expectations and the hopes of the people of God – hopes of an eternal kingdom, a blessing to the nations, and the defeat of our spiritual enemy – are all finding their glorious fulfilment in this birth!! Matthew 1:1-25