Episode #119 The Gift of Christ’s Genealogies – Awe in Advent

Hi friends, it's Jen, and we're continuing in our Awe in Advent series, and we're looking at prophecies that were given about Jesus's coming back in the Old Testament and marveling and wondering and pondering the miraculous ways that Jesus fulfilled those prophecies.

Today we're looking specifically at how Jesus is the son of God, who also came through the lines of Abraham and David.

The prophet Isaiah offered a lot of prophetic words about Jesus and one of them in Isaiah 9:7b, it says that he would be on the throne of David. We can look back to both the stories of David and Abraham and see how God told them in advance that the Messiah would come through their line or that their line would be established in ways that were beyond what's really possible for a mere human.

In Genesis 22:17-18, God is talking to Abraham. And he says,

“I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” (Genesis 22:17-18)

So this is a prophetic word, speaking of the ministry that will be fulfilled through Christ. And then talking to David, it's recorded for us in 2 Samuel 1:12-13,16.

“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” (2 Samuel 1:12-13,16)

And we see that fulfilled in the life and the ministry of Jesus.
All the way in Revelation 22:16, this is Jesus speaking. And it says,

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (Revelation 22:16)
We even see this listed in the genealogies of Jesus. So in Matthew 1:1, it says

“the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Matthew 1:1)

Jesus actually has two genealogies that are listed in the New Testament. Many scholars believe that Matthew 1 was the genealogy through Joseph, and that Luke chapter 3 was the genealogy through Mary.

Luke doesn't specifically mention Mary's name, but that wasn't a standard practice, to reference women in genealogies. It typically followed the male generations of a family. But it's believed that Mary's dad was Hali, (and I'm probably not pronouncing that right.) And in Luke 3:23, it says,

“Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,” (Luke 3:23)

And it continues on and lists both Abraham and David. so many scholars believe that Hali was actually Mary's father and Joseph became his son through marriage, because in Matthew 1, it states that Joseph's dad was Jacob.

Okay, so what do all of these things have to do with us?
Why do we care?

I have not always appreciated the genealogies that are listed in scripture, especially back in the Old Testament where it feels like there are pages upon pages of and so and so begat so and so who begat so and so, but genealogies are a record of their families. And specifically, when we're talking about Jesus, we're watching the fulfillment of promises. We're seeing who God chose to put in the biological genetic line of His Son, who He sent to earth.

We know that God didn't take it lightly to send Jesus to rescue us. And Jesus wasn't just some man who happened to be born to a lineage of people. He was still the son of God. In Romans 8:32, it says he, talking about God, the father, he who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him graciously give us all things? God didn't withhold his own son from us but sent him as our ransom.

There's significance to slowing down enough to realize and reflect on the fact that the Son of God was born just as God said He would be. And was born as part of the Abrahamic and Davidic lines—Son of God, Son of David, Son of Abraham, just as God said He would be too.

As I've been talking about this with God one of the things that really stood out to me is that God fulfilled His promises. He gave these words to Abraham and David and told them of something that was going to happen after their lives on earth were over.

They didn't physically see the fulfillment of these promises during their lifetimes, but God still was faithful.
God still upheld the promises that he made to them.

I find encouragement in that as I hold to promises that I have yet to see fulfilled. As I hold to promises that are outlined for us in God's word of what he says life with him and life in him can be like.

So today we're taking this uncommon topic of conversation, genealogies, into conversation with God. And here's the question that I encourage you to ask Him.

God, what do you and I need to talk about related to you fulfilling promises?

Have a good talk.

And if you've been encouraged by this content, please share it with a friend and help them grow in their conversational relationship with God too!

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