1Ki 15:1-5; Ac 13:13-23; Mt 1:1-6.  Tony van Drimmelen.  The message of Christmas means so much more when we understand what the stories these fore-mothers of Jesus are telling us about their lives. When Matthew refers to Bathsheba, he doesn’t mention her by name; instead, he refers to her as Uriah’s wife (v.6). Why? He wants us to know about King David’s story and, how God chose to further the line to Jesus. Through an act of shocking grace, that involves adultery and murder the promise made to Abraham and David is realized. Matthew doesn’t want us to miss that. And we should not miss the shocking grace of God that is Christmas too.