Text by Mari Anjeli Crisanto
Read:
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Luke 3:23-38 (NASB)
When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years old, being, as was commonly held, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, 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 Hesli, 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 Ram, 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 Heber, 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 Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Reflect:
In the genealogy of Jesus, we see the names of many sons and, as it goes in any ancestry account, the names of many fathers. We find in the verses above a brief rundown of famous men like Joseph (the husband of Mary), King David, Judah, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Noah, Enoch, Seth (the brother of Cain and Abel), and Adam (the first man).
Let us zero in on that final name – Adam. Biologically, he was indeed a father. However, looking at his sonship from a scientific perspective, we could conclude that Adam himself did not actually have a biological father because the Bible says that he was formed out of the dust. Yet, being created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27), Luke, in our devotions, declares that Adam was a son of God (Luke 3:38).
We know though that Adam was not a perfect son despite being fathered by God himself. Adam disobeyed God, hid from him, and pointed fingers at his wife when he was eventually found. These sins leaked over to the lives of his sons, Cain and Abel, whose stories we know did not end well (Genesis 4:1-16). Adam was however redeemed through his next son, Seth, through which the bloodline leading up to Jesus flowed.
Adam, like the rest of the fathers in Jesus’ ancestry, was imperfect. But his Father-Creator remained to be flawless, making a way to redeem us in spite of the mistakes the first human son committed. Through Jesus, God’s one true begotten Son (John 3:16), not only were Adam’s sins erased, we now also have the privilege to be called God’s adopted sons, too (Galatians 4:4-5). As the two Adams (1 Corinthians 15:45) were sons of God, we are now the Father’s sons and daughters as well.
Respond:
Adam, though initially walking as a son of God, fell greatly and took humanity down along with him. We also have a tendency to stumble as Adam did. But, knowing we are Fathered by God because of adoption through Christ, how will we now lead the rest of our lives?
Friends, let us embrace our sonship in God and walk as His begotten Son, Jesus, did.
Mari Anjeli Crisanto currently resides in the Salad Bowl of the Philippines - La Trinidad, Benguet! She is a wife, a mom, a full-time educator, and a daughter of the King. She worships God through songs and scribbles. Words deeply impact her. This is why she loves God's Word because, more powerful than any other word, it can cut through us, transforming you and me.
AUTHOR: MARI ANJELI CRISANTO