As Matthew concludes his three-section review of the ancestry of Jesus (Matthew 1:17) he does not gloss over the deportation of Jews to exile in Babylon, which was a shameful episode in Israel's history.  It was God's punishment of a nation which has refused to submit to Him (2 Chronicles 36:15-17).  But it was not the end of the story, because God had promised to bring them back again after 70 years (Jeremiah 29:10-11).

A key figure of the Jews’ return from Babylon was Zerubbabel, who led over 42,360 Jews in the first of three waves of returnees (Ezra 2:64).  Born in exile, he was trusted by the Persian King, Cyrus, and was able to lay the foundations of the second temple in Jerusalem.  But what he did was incomplete; it required others like Ezra and Nehemiah to bring the people back to honouring God's covenant law.

The next nine people in the genealogy are unknown to us.  The Bible shines no light on their lives.  They have a purpose in being human ancestors of the Lord Jesus Christ, but they have no glory.  Even Joseph's special role in being the guardian of the Son of God, has only a functional mention here – and expanded in Matthew 1:18-25 without giving Joseph any glory.  We know more about Mary from Luke's Gospel, but her role is limited to being God’s servant in accepting her responsibility as the human mother of God's Messiah (Luke 1:26-38).  You see, the gospel is not the good news about Zerubbabel, or Joseph or Mary; but it is the good news about Jesus the Messiah becoming the Saviour of the world (Matthew 1:21).

We like to glorify people: we have our heroes and examples.  Perhaps we might even want to be somebody else's hero.  But in comparison to Jesus, we have no glory of our own.  Even our best actions are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).  But we are known to God; and in some wonderful way He weaves our little stories into His big story – not so that we have the honour - but so that we and others will submit to Jesus (Philippians 2:9-11).  Although all those who love Him will share in His glory (Romans 8:17), it is not an independent glory: because it is all about what Jesus has done (Revelation 5:11-14).  So, in this age of celebrity, do not seek to be known.  Accept that God knows and loves you and that your future does not depend on what you can do, but in trusting what Jesus Christ has done for you.