The Genealogy Of Jesus Christ
By, James L. Thornton
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1. Introduction
2. The Christian Religion Centers In A Personality
3. Jesus Is Man Of Very Man
4. This Genealogy Tells About His Ancestry
5. Jesus Tells About His Family
6. How We Become Part Of His Family
7. A Member Of The Heavenly Family
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1. Introduction:
Matthew 1:1 “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
It is appropriate that the New Testament should begin with this verse. The genealogy of Jesus is given twice in the Gospels. Matthew 1:2-16, 15 verses, Luke 3:23-38, 16 verse. Probably few have really read it. It is dry, uninteresting reading—names not easy to pronounce. There must be a reason for this Genealogy being given twice.
2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
We can easily understand this about the
1. 23rd Psalm,
2. 53rd of Isaiah.
4. 13th of 1 Corinthians
5. 15th of 1 Corinthians
6. 5th, 6th, 7th, of Matthew
But Paul says it must apply to all scriptures. This Genealogy was not written to make the book longer. The Apostle John wrote about fewer than 20 days of Jesus’ life. But John tells us why he wrote, John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
We introduce this study to prove Why The Genealogy Of Jesus Was Written:
2. The Christian Religion Centers In A Personality:
The Christian religion is not just a creed, not just a code of morals; it is not just a ritual. It centers on a personal relationship between mankind and God.
God could not save us from the other side of the Universe. He did not send an ambassador or an angel. No, He came down from His glory and “took upon Himself the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:7)
Yet the power of His Godhead was constantly demonstrated. He had a miraculous birth. Born of a Virgin, He could have come with convincing power. He could have descended with His Throne in great Glory and Wonder. But all of this is reserved for the End of Time, Judgment. But He came in the stillness of the night.
Jesus could have chosen to be born in a Palace surrounded by and attended by splendor. Instead, He was born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling cloth and laid in a Manger, attended by Shepherds. “The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28).
3. Jesus Is Man Of Very Man:
It is written to tell us He is the man of very man and God of very God. The weakness of flesh was expressed many times. Hunger, Thirst, Weary, Lonely. This was God’s way of entering into a fellowship with mankind. He became one of us. He walked, talked, ate and suffered with Mankind.
4. This Genealogy Tells About His Ancestry:
The Genealogy is written to tell us of His Ancestry. Jesus was of Noble Ancestry, born of a long line of Kings and Prophets. Adam, Methuselah, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, names of honor, names to be proud of. Some names not so honorable, Rahab, Bathsheba, Ahaz, Manasseh, and Amon. This is common to all mankind.
The length of the table marks the fullness of time. Matthew counts the Generations from Abraham, 42 Generations. Luke counts back to Adam which was the Son of God, 77 Generations (Luke 3:38). The Name of Jesus marks the end of the Family Name. Through Jesus, there is a New Family Line, A New Name. His Name is Jesus.
We want to prove that there are more names, and more generations, on this side of His birth and death than there are on the other side.
Isaiah 53:8 “He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my People was he stricken.
9 And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death: because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to Grief; when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His Hand.
Three things we want to take note of out of these verses from Isaiah.
“Who shall declare His Generation?”
“He was cut off out of the land of the living.”
“He shall see His seed.”
5. Jesus Tells About His Family:
Those of His day never understood His mission, not even His own family.
Matthew 12:46. While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother, and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49. And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Mark 3:34. And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
35. For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
Blood is thicker than water. It becomes a mystical bond; there is no bond stronger than blood kin. The Blood of Jesus Christ has a nature of a direct perception, beyond the ordinary range of human experience. It has a reality beyond the comprehension of human reason. It has a power beyond natural understanding.
We talk about the Blood of Jesus Christ, we sing about it, we preach about it.
One preacher said He had heard about the Blood so much that it just made him sick. Then I heard another one, who heard him, preached on “The Nauseating Blood Of Jesus Christ.” Peter called it, “The Precious Blood.” We have His Blood applied to our souls by water baptism in His Name, in the New Birth Experience.
6. How we Become Part Of His Family:
We take on His Name in Water Baptism. We become part of His Family “Of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named. (Ephesians 3:15)
Ephesians 5:30. “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
Apostle John said in 1 John 3:2. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:17. “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 1:4, “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”
“Who shall declare His Generation?”
“He was cut off out of the Land of the Living”
“He shall see His Seed.”
6. A Member Of The Heavenly Family:
Everyone who has His blood applied to their heart and soul become a member of the family of God.
Do you declare (make known publicly) His generation?
Are you one of His seeds? There are millions who are.
Do you look upon Him as your near kinsman?
If not, why not become a part of the largest family in the universe?
We hope you received some benefit from this study on the Genealogy of Jesus Christ and will read the other studies on our website.
By, James L. Thornton
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