Passage: Luke 3:23-38
Title: Jesus’ Lineage
Today, we see that Jesus, who humbly received baptism, began His ministry. Before this, the Bible introduces Jesus as the son of Joseph. The genealogy is then traced back up by up, mentioning His ancestors.
At that time in Israel, people introduced themselves by saying, “I am the son of so-and-so,” because they didn’t have family names. It wasn’t until the Greco-Roman period that last names began to appear. Before that, people would say things like, “I am so-and-so, from the family of Bethlehem,” or “I am a descendant of this or that person.” For example, when David introduced himself before King Saul, he said, “I am your servant, the son of Jesse, from Bethlehem” (1 Samuel 17:58).
Genealogy is important because it answers the question, “Who am I?” It helps us see relationships and connections. Through it, we can remember someone’s identity and pass their story on, even after they are gone. When we refer to ancestors, we mean “grandparents and older generations in the same bloodline.” In the Bible, the word “ancestor” also refers to the founders of professions or cultural traditions, such as the ancestors of shepherds or those who played the harp or flute.
When the Bible speaks of “the God of our ancestors,” it emphasizes the continuity of faith and the covenant God made with His people. Abraham is often called “the father of faith,” and in this sense, God is described as the ultimate ancestor—both spiritually and culturally—passing down His promises and faith to future generations.
The opposite of ancestors is descendants, or children. The Bible speaks of passing on family traditions, inheritance, and the blessings of God to future generations.
When Matthew introduces Jesus, he says, “the son of Abraham and the son of David” (Matthew 1:1). This has two meanings. Jesus is a descendant of Abraham, which means He is part of the people of Israel and part of the covenant God made with Abraham. It also means He is a descendant of David, the king, and the Messiah was promised to come from David’s line. Therefore, Matthew connects Jesus to these two key figures in history.
In the Gospel of Matthew, we see a genealogy that goes from Abraham to David, from David to the Babylonian exile, and then from the exile to Jesus. Matthew wrote his Gospel for a Jewish audience, so he starts with Abraham, emphasizing Jesus’ Jewish heritage.
On the other hand, Luke traces the genealogy in the opposite direction. He begins with Jesus, then goes back to Joseph, through David and Abraham, all the way to Adam, and ultimately to God. Luke’s message is clear: Jesus is not just a descendant of important men in Israel’s history; He is ultimately the Son of God, showing that Jesus’ mission is for all humanity, not just the Jewish people.
So, who is Jesus? Ultimately, Jesus is the Son of God. He is not just the Savior of the Jewish people, but of all people and all creation.
There is a difference in how Matthew and Luke present Jesus’ genealogy because they were writing for different audiences. Matthew’s Gospel was for Jews, while Luke’s Gospel was for Gentiles. Luke’s answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” emphasizes that Jesus is the “heir to God’s kingdom,” the one who continues God’s plan for the world.
Believers in Jesus are part of God’s family. This means all of humanity can become part of God’s family, regardless of ethnicity or background.
Being part of God’s family means that we share in God’s inheritance. Romans 8:17 tells us, “If we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” We are called to share in God’s glory, but we must also share in Christ’s sufferings. Salvation is not the end; it is the beginning of a new life. A faith that says, “I’ve been saved, so I’m done” is not the kind of faith God desires. It’s like the prodigal son, who left home and only came back when he needed something. We must not be like the older brother who was upset when the prodigal son returned. Instead, we should see all people as our brothers and sisters, part of God’s family.
We need to return to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and ask, “Who is Jesus?” From there, we should look at His life—how He lived, what He taught, how He died, and how He rose again. As God’s children, we should think about how we can continue, develop, and carry forward His work in the world.
Who is Jesus? If we only believe in Jesus as someone who died on the cross to forgive our sins, then we may miss the bigger picture. We must understand that Jesus’ life and teachings are a model for us. If we don’t follow His example, we cut ourselves off from the family of faith.
Jesus fought against religious leaders who were more concerned with rules than with God’s love. We, too, must fight against selfishness, pride, and sin both inside and outside of ourselves. We all inherit a family name, but when we become God’s children, that name changes.
When we believe in Jesus, we are no longer defined by our earthly family names. We take on the name of Jesus Christ. This is our new identity.
As Christians, we share in God’s blessings, but we also share in His suffering. We may face challenges because of our faith, but we must remember that we are part of God’s family, united with all believers. We must love and forgive others, even when it is hard, because we are all part of the same family.
It’s not easy, but I pray that we will fight the good fight and receive the crown of glory that comes with faith in Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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