LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 1:1, The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

The central person in the Gospels is Jesus Christ! Matthew’s focus was to establish that He was the long-promised Messiah the Jewish people had been expecting. He began his gospel with a genealogy containing forty-seven names to show Jesus as a legitimate descendant of Abraham, and especially David. Genealogies were very important to the Jewish people when Matthew wrote.

Most of the time I skip over reading lists of names when given in the Bible. I took the time to read this genealogy and decided the names were easier to read than pronounce. Take a look at the list and you will discover that there are names of great men and women as well as names of some that were not so great. In this list you will read about people who were poor, some who were princes, shepherds, slaves, kings, and harlots. There are centuries of human experiences in the family tree of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I think the importance is the link between Jesus Christ and the chosen people of God; it connects Him to the promised Messiah of the Old Testament Scriptures. This connection is especially true in the lineage of David, as the Messiah was said to be a descendent of David. This verse stresses God’s promise being fulfilled by showing God working His plan of salvation through the many generations, concluding with the birth of Jesus Christ.

God works in His own way through the lives of individuals; He works mysteriously and intentionally throughout history to achieve His purpose, and in His time. This verse causes one to reflect on the significance of our own place in history and how each of us relates to the larger picture of God’s plan of redemption. I believe it challenges each of us to see our lives under the guidance and sovereignty of God by seeing the lineage of Jesus traced back to David and Abraham.

Luke, chapter three shows a different genealogy of Jesus that emphasizes His lineage through Mary. In verse 23, Luke refers to, “the son of Joseph, the son of Heli.” “Heli would have been Mary’s father, and the male before Jesus in the genealogical line.” (Online Bible Reference). This compliments Matthew’s genealogy by showing Jesus’ divine and human natures.

What a powerful introduction to the New Testament and to this Christmas celebration. It is more than just a list of names; it is an invitation for each Believer to reflect on the faithfulness of God and your place in the continuing story of God’s redemption. Consider how you will allow this wonderful story of God’s faithfulness and His redemption guide you as you continue your own journey on the narrow way into God’s eternal kingdom.