December 12th - The Ancestry of Jesus Christ

 

Passage: The Ancestry of Jesus Christ

^23–38 Jesus, assumed to be Joseph’s son, was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. Here are the names of Mary’s ancestors, from her father traced all the way back to Adam:

Eli, Matthat, Levi, Melki, Jannai, Joseph, Mattathias, Amos, Nahum, Esli, Naggai, Maath, Mattathias, Semein, Josech, Joda, Joanan, Rhesa, Zerubbabel, Shealtiel, Neri, Melchi, Addi, Cosam, Elmadam, Er, Joshua, Eliezer, Jorim, Matthat, Levi, Simeon, Judah, Joseph, Jonam, Eliakim, Melea, Menna, Mattatha, Nathan, David, Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon, Nahshon, Amminadab, Admin, Arni, Hezron, Perez, Judah, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor, Serug, Reu, Peleg, Eber, Shelah, Kenan, Arphaxad, Shem, Noah, Lamech, Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Mahalaleel, Cainan, Enos, Seth, and Adam, who was created by God. (Luke 3:23-38)

Ponder:

Matthew gives us the genealogy of Jesus from Joseph’s family, while Luke’s genealogy is from Mary’s side going back to Adam,” indicating Jesus’ story is humanity’s story.” “Others suggest that Joseph’s roots line is being traced in two different ways. “

The intention of Luke is clear. “In Jesus, God has carefully designed affairs to that as Son, Jesus can realise both the hope of the Old Testament and the hope of creation.” As human beings we not only share a planet, we share a relationship to each other. Transcending that is the fact that Jesus, as Son, offers an opportunity to any of us to share in God’s rich blessing…God’s plan of salvation indicates that he did not want to be a tribal god of only one people or of only one region. He came for everyone.”

Neither Matthew nor Luke gives a complete genealogy.**

The Gospel of Luke covers 35 years from the birth of John the Baptist until Jesus' Ascension. Probably written between 58 and 60AD***

Prayer:

Thank you Lord what you came to seek and to save the lost, from every tribe, kindred and tongue. Thank you Lord that we can be grafted into the roots of your ancestry by faith. I thank you Lord for coming to earth to redeem mankind.Amen.

*(The Jesus Diary – The Most Comprehensive Chronology of the Life of Jesus Christ, the Son of God)

** Luke:The NIV Application commentary from Biblical Text to Contemporary Life: Darrell L. Brock – Quotations (moving forward) will be from this source and The Matthew Commentary Collection by Wilkins, Osborne and McKnight.

***New Testament Survey by Kevin J. Conner and Ken Malmin.