The Father Of, the Son Of: Genealogies to Jesus
Weekly Devotional 12.2.2024

“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham….Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.” Matthew 1:1;17

Genealogies are an essential part of our lives. We all have curiosity about our family lineage and heritage. You may know about a family member who served in the Civil War or was a surviving member of the Titanic. You might have a cousin who is a celebrity or a great-grandfather who helped found a town. Knowing where you’re from and the people you’re connected with helps you define your identity and life story. In 1996, Ancestory.com was founded, and today, they have more than 25 million users from around 128 countries. While some users have found long-lost siblings and distant relatives, others have found connections to famous historical figures and nobility. While these are fascinating connections, the most famous genealogies in history are actually found in Matthew and Luke's gospels. In both accounts, Jesus is the central figure, but Luke and Matthew have different approaches to tracing Jesus’ lineage. When taken together, we see that Jesus is the perfect Son of God who represents all humanity and will be a blessing to the nations, reigning as King forever.

This is the actual message and hope of Christmas. Though we see Jesus as a tiny babe born in Bethlehem, we should also see Him as a conquering King who will redeem His people and reign forever on His eternal throne. The promised Messiah has finally come! These genealogies help us see Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s great promises and the climax of redemptive history. When you proclaim Jesus is Lord, you become part of this great genealogy. You become part of God’s family, a community of believers, where Jesus is head and will reign forever.