Jesus Is Truly the Son of God!

“Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God” (Luke 3:23b–38).

As we meditate on this passage, we can learn several important truths:

(1)    This passage records the genealogy of Jesus written by Luke.  It begins with the statement that Jesus was “as was supposed, the son of Joseph” (v. 23), and ends with “the son of God” (v. 38).

(a)    By tracing Jesus’ lineage all the way back to God Himself, Luke shows that Jesus is truly the Son of God (Hokmah).

(i)                 When we reflect on this truth, we are reminded of Luke 3:22, which we have already meditated on: “The Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’”

·         Putting these passages together, we can say: Jesus is the beloved Son of the Most High God, in whom He is well pleased!

(b)    Luke ultimately connects Jesus’ genealogy to God, and among the many names listed between Jesus and God, the name “David” (v. 31) reminds us of Luke 1:31–33, which we have also studied before.

(i)                 This is likely because the angel Gabriel appeared to the virgin Mary, who was “pledged to be married to Joseph, a descendant of David” (v. 27), and said that her son Jesus would be called “the Son of the Most High.”  “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (Lk. 1:31–33).

·         Thus, the presence of David among Jesus’ ancestors reminds us of what Paul wrote to the Roman church: “The gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David” (Rom. 1:2–3).

-          And again: “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.  This is my gospel” (2 Tim. 2:8).

n  In conclusion: Through Luke’s genealogy, we are led to confess with certainty — Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God, the beloved One in whom the Father delights, the promised Son of David whose kingdom will never end.