Luke 3:23-38
"23
Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as
was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the
son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, 25 the son
of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of
Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son
of Joseph, the son of Judah, 27 the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son
of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the
son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, 29 the son of
Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of
Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of
Jonan, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of
Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of
Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of
Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of
Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of
Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg,
the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad,
the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah,
the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, 38
the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God."
Some Explanation
Another genealogy!
Really!!?? Just how much can you
get out of a bunch of strange sounding names?
As a matter of fact, I do have something to share about this list, but
first some explanation and a little background.
When we read this second genealogy next to the one from Matthew, it is
obvious that they are different.
Why? One explanation is
that the family line recorded in Matthew is from Joseph’s line as Jesus’
earthly father. This one from Luke is thought
to be of Mary’s line. Notice the words
in parenthesis from verse 23, that Jesus was the “supposed” son of Joseph. It was not unusual for a son-in-law to be
called a “son” of his father-in-law.
Many commentators see that Luke’s gospel presents Jesus’
humanity picturing Him as a servant. The
difference between the two genealogies is one reason for this. Matthew 1:1-17 begins with Abraham. Luke 3:23-38 traces Jesus’ lineage all
the way to “...Adam, the son of God”. The
two genealogies intersect at David.
A Little Background
To understand my insight into this genealogy, it’s important
to remember the Old Testament story of Corsam.
...What? You don’t remember
Corsam? He was the father of Addi. Don’t remember him, either? Hmm...
But surely you remember what Addi’s father, Elmodam is known for, don’t
you? And the answer to that question is exactly the point of my observation and
insight.
Observations and Insights
Most of the names in this genealogy are men we know nothing
about except that they are simply in Jesus’ lineage. I imagine when they lived on the earth, they
did not know that the Promised Anointed One would be born of their line. They were everyday people just like me and
you, functioning in the ordinary tasks of life.
Today the church is often challenged to be radical, world changers, to transform
cultures, and usher in God’s kingdom as if everything depends on us. Whatever happened to living quiet peaceable
lives committed to the Lord? Every
husband/father and many wives/mothers who faithfully labor in today’s workforce
is walking out the ordinary service of living.
That is no small task. For many
it requires summoning great courage to maintain, provide for and protect their
homes and families. What if we just
lived faithfully before our children and neighbors, like perhaps Naggai and
Maath did, so that our generations may all follow the Lord? What if those who look to our example are
challenged to love their families? Would
that not be a radical thing?
Something that I’ve observed over the course of my
lengthening life is that when we begin to speak in terms of being radical,
transforming the world, and changing cultures, we become the central
figure. But it is the Lord Jesus Christ who
came into this world to do just that, one heart at a time. He said that His kingdom is not of this
world. It is a kingdom of the
heart. When I submit to His Word and to
His Lordship, He is able to do His work through me. Wherever He leads any of us, whether to tend
sheep on the backside of the mountain or to reign as a “king”, it will be by His grace working through us as we
live our ordinary lives before Him.
Next: Luke 1:39-56
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