WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.879 All right, well we are continuing this morning through the Gospel of Luke. 00:00:04.219 --> 00:00:13.439 Last Sunday we heard about Jesus' baptism and the powerful sign that God gave that Jesus was indeed his son. 00:00:14.300 --> 00:00:21.199 The people saw the Spirit of God come down upon Jesus from what appeared to be a rift in the sky 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:28.120 and they heard God speak audibly from heaven stating that Jesus was his son. 00:00:28.120 --> 00:00:39.560 And we talked about last Sunday how the Spirit coming down upon Jesus like this should give us great expectations for what Jesus will do and say. 00:00:40.460 --> 00:00:50.620 And Luke's about to get to all that, but before he does, Luke wants us to be clear about who Jesus is with regard to his humanity. 00:00:50.780 --> 00:00:56.520 And so right in the middle of this account, Luke writes out the genealogy of Jesus. 00:00:56.520 --> 00:01:01.840 We're in Luke chapter 3, verse 23. 00:01:02.660 --> 00:01:06.780 Now Jesus himself was about 30 years old when he began his ministry. 00:01:07.560 --> 00:01:18.600 He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Methat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jani, the son of Joseph. 00:01:19.100 --> 00:01:22.000 And the list goes on like this for quite a while. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:34.040 The son of, the son of, the son of the son of the son of 76 names in total from Jesus all the way back to Adam, the first man ever created. 00:01:35.379 --> 00:01:38.420 Let's talk about genealogies for a minute. 00:01:38.420 --> 00:01:45.040 Most of us might find genealogies boring and dry. 00:01:46.040 --> 00:01:52.680 If we think about our everyday conversations, when's the last time somebody asked you about your distant ancestry? 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:56.260 Probably not very often. 00:01:56.260 --> 00:02:07.120 In our modern North American culture, genealogies and family trees are just not valued as much as they used to be by previous generations. 00:02:08.200 --> 00:02:13.640 And then we could add to all of that some of the statements made in the Bible about genealogies. 00:02:13.639 --> 00:02:20.539 Paul, in his letter to Timothy, said this in 1 Timothy 1, verse 3. 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:29.899 He commanded Timothy to stay in Ephesus so that he might command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 00:02:29.899 --> 00:02:34.579 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. 00:02:35.359 --> 00:02:41.719 He said such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God's work. 00:02:41.719 --> 00:02:47.379 He wrote this to Titus in Titus 3, verse 9. 00:02:47.500 --> 00:02:47.740 He said, 00:02:47.740 --> 00:02:58.099 Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law because these are unprofitable and useless. 00:02:59.219 --> 00:03:06.419 So there's a sense in which spending a lot of time tracing out our ancestry is simply a waste of time. 00:03:07.539 --> 00:03:09.900 It's unprofitable. It's useless. 00:03:09.900 --> 00:03:17.560 Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, even refers to his own ancestry in chapter 3. 00:03:18.580 --> 00:03:24.319 He says that he's of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. 00:03:25.879 --> 00:03:29.960 But then he dismisses all of that as putting confidence in the flesh. 00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:31.640 He says, 00:03:31.700 --> 00:03:41.040 I consider that rubbish and loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus and being found in him. 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:50.379 So there's a sense in which our culture actually does well not to obsess or worry about genealogies and ancestry. 00:03:50.379 --> 00:03:53.139 But it hasn't always been this way. 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:56.439 In the distant past, genealogies were a big deal. 00:03:57.340 --> 00:04:03.599 Back in the days of kingdoms and empires and family dynasties and nobility of all different varieties, 00:04:03.859 --> 00:04:06.439 ancestry was a huge deal. 00:04:07.419 --> 00:04:11.639 Many civilizations in the past upheld the royalty of a particular family. 00:04:11.639 --> 00:04:14.899 And so ancestry mattered greatly. 00:04:15.059 --> 00:04:21.339 And of course, they would pay extra careful attention to keep those genealogical records well. 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:31.279 And in much of human history, that approach to ancestry really has been about putting confidence in the flesh. 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:40.199 But at some point, we have to come to grips with the reality that there are quite a few genealogies in the Bible. 00:04:41.199 --> 00:04:46.619 By one count, there are about 25 to 30 genealogies in the Bible. 00:04:47.219 --> 00:04:49.899 And now some of those would be really short and just a few names. 00:04:50.619 --> 00:04:53.019 But some are longer, multiple chapters. 00:04:53.019 --> 00:05:01.219 And if God has seen fit to preserve these words for us in his scriptures, 00:05:01.699 --> 00:05:09.979 then there must be great value and importance and purpose to these genealogies in particular. 00:05:11.579 --> 00:05:18.479 For example, one of the great purposes of genealogies in the Bible is simply to answer the question of who we are, 00:05:19.159 --> 00:05:20.159 where we came from. 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:23.439 And so it's really great to have Genesis chapter 5, 00:05:23.540 --> 00:05:28.000 which traces things from Noah and the great flood all the way back to Adam, 00:05:28.580 --> 00:05:30.320 the first man whom God created. 00:05:31.520 --> 00:05:34.600 Genealogies in the Bible reveal the truth of where we came from. 00:05:35.780 --> 00:05:39.240 Another great benefit to genealogies is that they help us see the movement 00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:45.100 and grouping of families and peoples as they spread out over the earth. 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:48.920 The table of nations in Genesis chapter 10 is very helpful. 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:56.600 We learn there that some of the grandsons of Noah were named Egypt and Canaan and Cush. 00:05:57.740 --> 00:06:00.160 And then the descendants of these men became nations, 00:06:00.280 --> 00:06:04.120 which are part of our world story as time went on. 00:06:04.980 --> 00:06:10.920 And so genealogies give us helpful historical context about who's who in the ancient world. 00:06:10.920 --> 00:06:16.819 But there are three things that really stand out to me when it comes to genealogies in the Bible. 00:06:18.060 --> 00:06:22.480 The first is that genealogies reveal the faithfulness of God. 00:06:23.180 --> 00:06:25.879 If we look back on the history in the Bible, 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:30.780 we see that time and time again, God makes promises. 00:06:30.779 --> 00:06:37.159 And he makes very specific promises to many different people. 00:06:37.919 --> 00:06:44.819 Great promises about how things will go for their descendants, for their offspring, 00:06:45.339 --> 00:06:49.119 which if we think about is quite something. 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:58.120 God frequently makes promises which cannot even be seen to be kept until generations have passed. 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:03.579 Promises so big that we die before they come true. 00:07:04.139 --> 00:07:10.540 But then future generations are able to look back and see the amazing faithfulness of God. 00:07:10.540 --> 00:07:14.460 God's consistent ability to keep his word. 00:07:15.960 --> 00:07:18.460 Without the genealogical records of the Bible, 00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:21.439 how would we be able to see if God's promises came true? 00:07:22.340 --> 00:07:27.640 How would we see that God did indeed make Abraham's offspring into a great nation? 00:07:28.300 --> 00:07:33.379 How would we be able to see that God did in fact keep every man over 20 00:07:33.379 --> 00:07:37.740 except Joshua and Caleb from entering the promised land, as he said? 00:07:37.740 --> 00:07:44.439 How would we be able to see if God's word about cutting off the line of Eli from the priesthood ever came true? 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:51.960 So this is one truly breathtaking thing about God that genealogies of the Bible reveal. 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:58.280 They reveal his consistent faithfulness to keep his multi-generational promises. 00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:05.900 The second thing, genealogies reveal the sovereign power of God 00:08:05.899 --> 00:08:09.399 and the wisdom of God. 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:12.759 And it's kind of related to the faithfulness of God 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:16.139 because at some point we just have to ask the question, 00:08:16.339 --> 00:08:24.299 how is it that God can be right about what's going to happen in the future 100% of the time? 00:08:24.300 --> 00:08:30.379 And we start to see that it's not just predictions that God is making, 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:34.419 but God's actually claiming to be actively at work 00:08:34.419 --> 00:08:40.440 to bring to pass the things that he promises and foretells. 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:43.019 And there are many stories in the Bible 00:08:43.019 --> 00:08:46.879 where human beings in their pride or their arrogance 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:50.539 or sometimes even in their ignorance 00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:57.200 do something that would seemingly thwart the plan of God 00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:00.679 and keep his promise from coming true. 00:09:00.820 --> 00:09:03.740 And yet, amazingly, God demonstrates his ability 00:09:03.740 --> 00:09:05.600 and his power 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:09.179 to rule over all that happens on earth 00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:11.460 in such a way that everything that he said 00:09:11.460 --> 00:09:13.019 comes to pass. 00:09:13.019 --> 00:09:18.039 So genealogies give us the needed contours of that story 00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:21.579 so that we can see the power of God at work 00:09:21.579 --> 00:09:23.519 from generation to generation. 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:27.259 Not only his power, but also his wisdom. 00:09:28.500 --> 00:09:30.480 I mean, how could God know 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:32.679 who would do what 00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:36.460 in generations down the line 00:09:36.460 --> 00:09:38.639 before any of them had even been born 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:42.120 unless he were truly all-knowing? 00:09:43.019 --> 00:09:46.319 Third, and probably the most significant, 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:49.379 genealogies reveal God's plan of salvation. 00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:52.039 And it ends up being like this 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:55.000 simply because God makes his promises to save 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:58.319 in a way that's tied to future offspring, 00:09:58.799 --> 00:09:59.939 as I said earlier. 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:02.259 Think of the promise God made in the garden 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:05.299 to the serpent after Adam and Eve sinned. 00:10:05.299 --> 00:10:10.139 He, the offspring of the woman, 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:11.279 will crush your head 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:14.459 and you will strike his heel. 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:18.539 Think of the promise God made to Abraham. 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:22.759 All people on earth will be blessed through you. 00:10:24.139 --> 00:10:26.339 Think of the blessing of Jacob, 00:10:26.500 --> 00:10:27.559 the grandson of Abraham, 00:10:27.819 --> 00:10:30.959 which he gave to Judah before he died. 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:32.900 He said, 00:10:32.900 --> 00:10:34.860 the scepter will not depart from Judah, 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:37.759 nor the ruler's staff from between his feet 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:39.960 until he to whom it belongs shall come 00:10:39.960 --> 00:10:44.259 and the obedience of the nations shall be his. 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:46.759 Think of the covenant promise 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:48.500 made to the great King David, 00:10:49.100 --> 00:10:50.360 a descendant of Judah, 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:52.700 about how his son would reign 00:10:52.700 --> 00:10:54.980 on his throne forever. 00:10:54.980 --> 00:10:58.639 This is from 1 Chronicles 17. 00:10:59.060 --> 00:10:59.840 When your days, 00:10:59.940 --> 00:11:01.399 this is God speaking to David, 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:04.620 are over and you go to be with your ancestors, 00:11:04.899 --> 00:11:07.440 I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, 00:11:08.060 --> 00:11:09.320 one of your own sons, 00:11:09.980 --> 00:11:11.639 and I will establish his kingdom. 00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:14.800 He is the one who will build a house for me 00:11:14.800 --> 00:11:17.580 and I will establish his throne forever. 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:19.560 I will be his father 00:11:19.560 --> 00:11:21.399 and he will be my son. 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:24.379 I will never take my love away from him 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:26.039 as I took it away from your predecessor. 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:28.899 I will set him over my house 00:11:28.899 --> 00:11:30.740 and my kingdom forever. 00:11:31.319 --> 00:11:33.980 His throne will be established forever. 00:11:35.939 --> 00:11:38.439 Notice all these promises of salvation 00:11:38.439 --> 00:11:40.519 and deliverance and blessing 00:11:40.519 --> 00:11:43.299 are made about the future descendants 00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:45.639 of each person. 00:11:46.939 --> 00:11:48.100 And not only that, 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:51.019 but they seem to be narrowing things down 00:11:51.019 --> 00:11:53.340 in God's great plan of salvation. 00:11:54.659 --> 00:11:57.120 First, we're looking to a descendant of Eve, 00:11:57.199 --> 00:11:58.240 just a human being. 00:11:58.740 --> 00:12:00.840 Then, a descendant of Abraham, 00:12:01.620 --> 00:12:03.860 a man who lived many generations after. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:05.939 Then a descendant of Isaac and Jacob, 00:12:06.439 --> 00:12:07.579 Judah, and then David. 00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:12.100 Suddenly, had we lived in any of these times, 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:14.679 genealogies and ancestry 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:16.860 are now extremely important 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:20.700 because God is promising such great things 00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:24.220 through the unfolding of generations. 00:12:26.419 --> 00:12:30.419 But not just any genealogy is extremely important. 00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:33.480 One genealogy in particular 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:35.039 is of immeasurable value 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:37.500 because through this line, 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:41.240 the Savior, the Deliverer, 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:42.360 the King, 00:12:43.560 --> 00:12:44.039 promised, 00:12:45.180 --> 00:12:45.879 is revealed. 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:48.340 I mentioned earlier 00:12:48.340 --> 00:12:50.940 that there's about 25 to 30 genealogies 00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:51.500 in the Bible, 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:53.180 but in the New Testament, 00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:54.159 there are only two. 00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:56.120 And both of them 00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:57.680 are for one person, 00:12:58.639 --> 00:12:58.940 Jesus. 00:12:58.940 --> 00:13:02.760 If there's any genealogy ever 00:13:02.760 --> 00:13:04.600 that we should care about, 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:06.160 it's this one. 00:13:06.900 --> 00:13:08.060 If there's any 00:13:08.060 --> 00:13:08.980 that displays 00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:10.420 the time-enduring, 00:13:11.280 --> 00:13:13.900 multi-generational faithfulness of God, 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:15.540 it's this one. 00:13:16.560 --> 00:13:18.160 Because in this genealogy, 00:13:18.300 --> 00:13:18.820 the Savior, 00:13:19.040 --> 00:13:19.600 the Messiah, 00:13:19.760 --> 00:13:21.240 the Son of God Himself 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:22.560 is revealed. 00:13:23.640 --> 00:13:24.780 And so let's dig into it 00:13:24.780 --> 00:13:26.120 a little bit together this morning. 00:13:28.940 --> 00:13:31.460 The first thing we notice here 00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:33.340 is how Luke refers to Joseph, 00:13:33.820 --> 00:13:35.100 the father of Jesus. 00:13:36.220 --> 00:13:38.200 Jesus was the Son, 00:13:38.660 --> 00:13:41.120 so it was thought of Joseph. 00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:45.020 Already, we need to pause and reflect. 00:13:45.260 --> 00:13:46.620 Why does Luke say it that way? 00:13:47.800 --> 00:13:50.080 Well, Luke's already shown us 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:51.640 in the story that he's been telling 00:13:51.640 --> 00:13:55.400 that Jesus was conceived 00:13:55.400 --> 00:13:58.660 and born of the Holy Spirit and Mary. 00:13:58.940 --> 00:14:00.700 without a human father. 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:05.860 God's Spirit will overshadow you 00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:07.200 and cause you to conceive 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:09.080 such that the child to be born 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:10.420 will be called the Son of God, 00:14:10.560 --> 00:14:11.160 said Gabriel. 00:14:11.700 --> 00:14:13.160 So Luke's reminding us 00:14:13.160 --> 00:14:14.340 right here at the beginning 00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:16.040 that Jesus was thought 00:14:16.040 --> 00:14:17.320 or considered to be 00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:18.280 the son of Joseph 00:14:18.280 --> 00:14:20.960 by all the people around him 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:22.260 as he grew up. 00:14:22.259 --> 00:14:24.819 But Joseph was only his father 00:14:24.819 --> 00:14:26.259 in a legal, 00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:28.120 head of the household, 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:30.319 perhaps even adoptive 00:14:30.319 --> 00:14:31.419 sort of way 00:14:31.419 --> 00:14:32.759 rather than in the ordinary 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:34.059 biological way. 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:36.799 From there he goes on. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:37.480 And Joseph 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:43.240 was the son of Heli. 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:47.539 Already we run into a major 00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:49.200 and challenging discussion. 00:14:49.460 --> 00:14:50.039 Don't worry, 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:50.899 we're not going to go through 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:52.899 every name at this level in detail. 00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:55.500 Otherwise, 00:14:55.700 --> 00:14:57.379 this will be the best sermon 00:14:57.379 --> 00:14:58.240 on genealogy 00:14:58.799 --> 00:14:59.779 that you never heard. 00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:04.139 Joseph was the son of Heli. 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:06.220 But the other genealogy 00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:07.399 of Jesus 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:08.959 given in Matthew's Gospel 00:15:08.959 --> 00:15:11.100 says Joseph's dad 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:12.179 was a man named Jacob. 00:15:13.319 --> 00:15:14.059 Let's see if I can put them 00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:15.199 on the screen both together 00:15:15.199 --> 00:15:16.079 side by side. 00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:18.439 So what's going on here? 00:15:19.839 --> 00:15:21.179 And as we continue 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:22.459 down the list of names 00:15:22.459 --> 00:15:23.480 comparing Matthew 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:25.339 and Luke's genealogies of Jesus, 00:15:25.339 --> 00:15:26.480 we notice that there are 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:28.079 two different sets of names 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:30.020 until we get down 00:15:30.020 --> 00:15:31.320 to verse 27. 00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:32.820 Zerubbabel, 00:15:33.420 --> 00:15:35.520 the son of Shealtiel 00:15:35.520 --> 00:15:37.660 in Luke's Gospel. 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:39.379 Both Matthew and Luke 00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:40.080 have him 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:41.720 in their genealogies of Jesus. 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:44.300 And then we also notice 00:15:44.300 --> 00:15:45.460 that from Shealtiel 00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:46.540 all the way down 00:15:46.540 --> 00:15:47.400 to King David, 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:48.620 there are two different 00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:49.300 sets of names 00:15:49.300 --> 00:15:50.200 given by Matthew 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:51.259 and Luke. 00:15:52.060 --> 00:15:53.360 So what's going on here? 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:55.240 How can there be 00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:56.340 two significantly 00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:57.400 different genealogies 00:15:58.080 --> 00:15:59.300 for Jesus? 00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:01.940 And this turns out 00:16:01.940 --> 00:16:03.020 has been a sort of puzzle 00:16:03.020 --> 00:16:04.220 which has had scholars 00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:05.600 and commentators 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:06.280 and Christians 00:16:06.280 --> 00:16:07.900 speculating and discussing 00:16:07.900 --> 00:16:08.680 back and forth 00:16:08.680 --> 00:16:10.639 for almost 2,000 years. 00:16:12.400 --> 00:16:14.120 Even the early church fathers 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:15.420 acknowledged these differences 00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:16.560 in their writings 00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:17.280 all the way back 00:16:17.280 --> 00:16:18.340 in the second century. 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.580 In the year 220 AD, 00:16:20.780 --> 00:16:21.520 there was a guy named 00:16:21.520 --> 00:16:23.340 Julius Africanus. 00:16:23.780 --> 00:16:24.820 He's the first man 00:16:24.820 --> 00:16:25.420 we know of 00:16:25.420 --> 00:16:26.640 to propose some sort 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:27.539 of explanation 00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:28.559 to the reason 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:29.340 for the differences. 00:16:30.699 --> 00:16:31.779 And there are primarily 00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:33.000 two explanations 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.860 for the differences 00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:36.580 between Luke's genealogy 00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:37.100 of Jesus 00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:38.720 and Matthew's. 00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:41.019 One common idea 00:16:41.019 --> 00:16:42.259 is that Luke 00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:43.399 is actually giving us 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:44.860 the genealogy of Mary 00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:46.759 rather than Joseph. 00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:49.500 With this understanding, 00:16:49.779 --> 00:16:50.919 there's a lot of emphasis 00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:51.659 here on 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:54.120 on that phrase, 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.259 so it was thought 00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:56.219 of Joseph. 00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:57.399 In other words, 00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:58.879 Joseph was not 00:16:58.879 --> 00:16:59.759 biologically 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:01.199 Jesus' father. 00:17:02.039 --> 00:17:02.439 But, 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:03.679 let's continue 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:04.619 to give his 00:17:04.619 --> 00:17:06.319 relatives, 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:07.980 Heli was 00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:08.700 biologically 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:10.420 his grandfather. 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:11.639 And so, 00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:12.480 the idea here 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:12.980 is that 00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:14.119 this whole 00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:15.659 lineage 00:17:15.659 --> 00:17:16.559 traces out 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:17.319 through Mary 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:19.019 all the way back 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:20.139 to King David 00:17:20.139 --> 00:17:21.700 and then Matthew's 00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:22.259 would be 00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:23.019 through Joseph. 00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:24.500 Personally, 00:17:24.619 --> 00:17:25.339 I find this view 00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:26.059 unconvincing. 00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:27.440 Grammatically, 00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:28.920 the natural way 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:30.019 to understand this 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.740 is that Joseph 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:31.460 was the son 00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:32.059 of Heli, 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:33.680 regardless of what 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:34.539 so it was thought 00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.980 is taken to mean. 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:38.480 And it does make sense 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:38.920 to us 00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:39.779 to trace it back 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:40.299 through Mary 00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:40.900 because that's 00:17:40.900 --> 00:17:42.240 the biological connection. 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:43.339 But, 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:44.220 if we look at 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:45.139 how genealogies 00:17:45.139 --> 00:17:46.059 were done back then, 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:47.339 it was always, 00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:48.039 always, 00:17:48.179 --> 00:17:48.899 always traced 00:17:48.899 --> 00:17:49.599 through the father. 00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:51.179 Sometimes, 00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:51.980 there'd be the mention 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:52.519 of the mother 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:53.940 alongside the name 00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:54.460 of a man, 00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:56.240 but predominantly 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:57.019 through the father. 00:17:57.539 --> 00:17:57.819 Though, 00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:59.059 if this is the case, 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.079 if this is Mary's 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:00.659 genealogy, 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:01.379 then it certainly 00:18:01.379 --> 00:18:01.940 would show 00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:02.839 how Jesus 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:04.299 was biologically 00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:05.440 descended from David. 00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:08.079 The second view 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:08.740 is that both 00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:10.079 of these genealogies, 00:18:10.679 --> 00:18:11.039 Matthew 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:12.399 and Luke's, 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:13.839 trace Jesus' 00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:14.619 ancestry 00:18:14.619 --> 00:18:15.599 through Joseph. 00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:18.119 So, 00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:18.779 then the big 00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:19.519 questions with 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.159 this view are, 00:18:20.299 --> 00:18:20.759 how is it 00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:21.279 that Joseph 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:22.359 had two dads? 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:26.759 Similarly, 00:18:27.379 --> 00:18:28.159 if we look down 00:18:28.159 --> 00:18:29.079 to verse 27 00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:29.619 in Luke, 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:32.159 how is it 00:18:32.159 --> 00:18:32.980 that Shealtiel 00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:34.119 had two dads? 00:18:36.899 --> 00:18:37.700 If we look 00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:38.379 at what's happening 00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:38.720 here, 00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:40.579 from King David, 00:18:40.919 --> 00:18:41.419 the lines 00:18:41.419 --> 00:18:42.779 basically diverge, 00:18:43.179 --> 00:18:44.019 then they converge 00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.720 again at 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.859 Zerubbabel, 00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:47.240 son of Shealtiel, 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:48.480 then they diverge 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:49.399 again and converge 00:18:49.399 --> 00:18:50.700 again at Joseph 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:52.179 and then Jesus. 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.960 And all of that 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:56.039 happens over a span 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.859 of about a thousand 00:18:56.859 --> 00:18:57.359 years. 00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:00.299 Julius Africanus, 00:19:00.379 --> 00:19:00.960 the man that I 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:01.740 mentioned earlier, 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:02.980 reminds us that 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.639 there was the 00:19:03.639 --> 00:19:04.419 Jewish custom 00:19:04.419 --> 00:19:06.339 from the law 00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:06.859 of Moses 00:19:06.859 --> 00:19:07.259 whereby 00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:08.659 if a man 00:19:08.659 --> 00:19:10.079 died 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:11.139 and left 00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:11.139 00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:12.019 his wife 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.759 behind 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.939 childless, 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.799 then his 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:16.240 brother 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.079 was permitted 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:17.699 to marry 00:19:17.699 --> 00:19:18.359 his widow 00:19:18.359 --> 00:19:20.839 and could 00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:21.759 raise up 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.299 offspring 00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:23.419 for his 00:19:23.419 --> 00:19:24.000 deceased 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:24.659 brother. 00:19:25.179 --> 00:19:26.019 This custom 00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:26.599 was called 00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:27.919 leverite marriage 00:19:27.919 --> 00:19:29.639 and it was 00:19:29.639 --> 00:19:30.399 still well-known 00:19:30.399 --> 00:19:31.220 enough in Jesus' 00:19:31.419 --> 00:19:31.939 day that the 00:19:31.939 --> 00:19:32.639 religious leaders 00:19:32.639 --> 00:19:33.699 asked him a 00:19:33.699 --> 00:19:34.339 trick question 00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:34.819 about it. 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.339 So that's one 00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:37.500 possible explanation 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.440 for how a man 00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:38.839 could have 00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:39.519 two fathers. 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:40.799 He could be 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:41.400 considered the 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:41.980 son of his 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:43.319 deceased father 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:44.579 by his family 00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:45.000 name, 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:46.259 but be 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:47.259 biologically the 00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:47.740 son of his 00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:48.700 dad's brother. 00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:51.019 A second 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.700 possibility 00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.500 whereby a man 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:53.019 could have 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:54.000 two dads 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:54.880 is in the 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:55.259 case of 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:55.680 adoption. 00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:56.759 This is one 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.299 more familiar 00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:57.880 to us. 00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:58.880 Perhaps 00:19:58.880 --> 00:19:59.660 Joseph's birth 00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:00.160 dad was 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.579 Jacob, 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:01.799 as stated in 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:02.200 Matthew, 00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:03.200 but then for 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:03.700 some unknown 00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.119 reason, 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.000 Jacob died, 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.240 leaving Joseph 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.059 an orphan, 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.440 and then 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:09.180 Joseph was 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.400 later adopted 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:11.339 by Heli. 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.660 Both of these 00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:14.940 possibilities imply 00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.680 that one of 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.240 these fathers 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:17.079 was Jacob's 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:18.180 biological dad 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:19.440 and the other 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:21.119 his legal or 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:21.900 adoptive or 00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:22.359 head of the 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:23.740 household father. 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:26.220 And the 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:26.779 effect then 00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:27.599 would be having 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:28.259 two different 00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:29.259 genealogies like 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:29.880 this, it would 00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:30.960 confirm that both 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:31.640 of Joseph's 00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:32.779 fathers were 00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:33.460 descended from 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:33.799 David. 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:35.140 In a sense 00:20:35.140 --> 00:20:35.880 removing any 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:36.880 doubt as to 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:38.020 the ancestry 00:20:38.020 --> 00:20:39.360 of Jesus, 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.360 in case anyone 00:20:40.360 --> 00:20:41.020 might call it 00:20:41.020 --> 00:20:41.640 into question. 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.540 We simply 00:20:43.540 --> 00:20:44.160 don't know 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:45.280 which of 00:20:45.280 --> 00:20:46.700 these possibilities 00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:48.420 it was that 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:49.820 explain these 00:20:49.820 --> 00:20:51.500 two convergences 00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:53.580 in Jesus' 00:20:53.760 --> 00:20:54.220 line from 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:54.600 David. 00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:55.720 Both of 00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.360 these things, 00:20:56.580 --> 00:20:57.360 adoption and 00:20:57.360 --> 00:20:58.100 levirate marriage, 00:20:58.100 --> 00:20:58.820 are relatively 00:20:58.820 --> 00:20:59.460 uncommon, 00:21:00.100 --> 00:21:01.280 but over the 00:21:01.280 --> 00:21:01.820 span of a 00:21:01.820 --> 00:21:02.720 thousand years, 00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:04.360 is it 00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:04.860 conceivable 00:21:04.860 --> 00:21:05.480 that there be 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:06.380 two adoptions? 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.759 Or one 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.420 adoption and 00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:09.099 one levirate 00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:09.539 marriage, 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.799 causing Jesus 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:11.579 in a sense to 00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:12.339 be doubly 00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:13.240 related to 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:13.539 David? 00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:15.140 I think that 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:15.559 seems a 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:15.940 reasonable 00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:16.620 explanation. 00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:19.079 Not only that, 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:19.539 we have to 00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:20.160 remember that 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:20.640 the people 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.460 descended from 00:21:21.460 --> 00:21:21.819 David, 00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:22.360 especially 00:21:22.360 --> 00:21:23.500 closer to 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:23.779 him, 00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:24.440 would have 00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:24.960 considered 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:26.480 themselves to 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:26.799 be of 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.620 royal birth, 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:30.059 related to 00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:30.500 the great 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:31.099 king David, 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:31.680 and so of 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.180 course they 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:32.440 would have 00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:33.140 kept track 00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:34.120 of their 00:21:34.120 --> 00:21:35.100 genealogical 00:21:35.100 --> 00:21:35.539 records 00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.340 meticulously, 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:37.900 knowing the 00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:38.680 promises God 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.200 had made. 00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:40.600 It's even 00:21:40.600 --> 00:21:41.340 more likely 00:21:41.340 --> 00:21:42.420 that an 00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:43.180 adoption or 00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:43.799 a levirate 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:44.580 marriage or 00:21:44.580 --> 00:21:45.259 two took 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.000 place over 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.620 the centuries 00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:47.160 in order to 00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:47.880 ensure that 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:48.340 the family 00:21:48.340 --> 00:21:50.360 name carried 00:21:50.360 --> 00:21:50.980 on down the 00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:51.840 line to the 00:21:51.840 --> 00:21:52.580 next generation. 00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.960 So that's a 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:55.620 lot to say 00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:56.240 that we don't 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:56.900 know all the 00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:58.100 details of why 00:21:58.100 --> 00:21:58.860 these two 00:21:58.860 --> 00:22:00.160 genealogies are 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.580 different, 00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:01.859 but there 00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:02.220 are at least 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:02.819 a few good 00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:04.419 possibilities to 00:22:04.419 --> 00:22:05.079 explain how 00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:05.679 they ended up 00:22:05.679 --> 00:22:06.199 different from 00:22:06.199 --> 00:22:06.659 each other, 00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:07.460 and it shouldn't 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.480 be a reason to 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:08.939 doubt the 00:22:08.939 --> 00:22:09.939 accuracy of the 00:22:09.939 --> 00:22:10.220 Bible. 00:22:11.679 --> 00:22:12.500 With that out of 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:12.699 the way, 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.639 let's look at 00:22:13.639 --> 00:22:14.399 some of these 00:22:14.399 --> 00:22:15.279 names and 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:16.720 think about what 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:17.439 Luke wants us 00:22:17.439 --> 00:22:18.980 to see by 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:19.720 including all of 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.299 this in his 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:20.679 account. 00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:22.039 Let's start with 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:23.639 one of the more 00:22:23.639 --> 00:22:24.699 significant names. 00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:27.439 Zerubbabel, 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:28.819 son of Shealtiel, 00:22:28.879 --> 00:22:29.799 in verse 27. 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.519 Very significant 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:31.980 figure. 00:22:32.919 --> 00:22:33.439 He was the 00:22:33.439 --> 00:22:34.139 grandson of 00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:34.839 Jehoiachin, 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:35.720 king of Judah, 00:22:36.179 --> 00:22:37.359 and Jehoiachin 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:38.119 was the second 00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:38.899 last king of 00:22:38.899 --> 00:22:39.639 Judah leading up 00:22:39.639 --> 00:22:40.359 to the exile. 00:22:41.419 --> 00:22:41.740 In fact, 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:42.720 Jehoiachin himself 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.279 was actually 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:44.740 captured by the 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.740 Babylonian army 00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:47.220 in Jerusalem, 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:47.960 and then he was 00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:49.220 taken prisoner to 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:50.619 Babylon along with 00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:51.359 many of the other 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:52.980 people of Judah. 00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:54.819 But by the power 00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:55.519 and working of 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:57.119 God, God brought 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:57.699 many of his 00:22:57.699 --> 00:22:58.639 people back into 00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:00.140 Israel out of 00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:01.580 exile 70 years 00:23:01.580 --> 00:23:03.040 later, and 00:23:03.040 --> 00:23:04.400 Zerubbabel, the 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:05.500 grandson of 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:07.400 King Jehoiachin, 00:23:07.580 --> 00:23:08.360 was one of the 00:23:08.360 --> 00:23:09.400 men who came 00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:09.800 back. 00:23:10.580 --> 00:23:11.300 He's mentioned 00:23:11.300 --> 00:23:12.180 several times in 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:12.580 the book of 00:23:12.580 --> 00:23:12.900 Ezra. 00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:14.520 He helped with 00:23:14.520 --> 00:23:15.300 the rebuilding of 00:23:15.300 --> 00:23:16.580 the temple, the 00:23:16.580 --> 00:23:17.420 city of Jerusalem, 00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:18.140 and the wall. 00:23:18.780 --> 00:23:19.720 He's mentioned in 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:20.220 the books of 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.200 Nehemiah and 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:22.060 Haggai and 00:23:22.060 --> 00:23:23.020 Zechariah. 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.560 He's referred to 00:23:24.560 --> 00:23:25.400 not as a king, 00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:26.440 but as the 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:27.140 governor of 00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:28.620 Judah, probably 00:23:28.620 --> 00:23:29.420 because in his 00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:31.220 days, the land 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:32.180 was under the 00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:32.600 rule of the 00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:33.340 Persian Empire. 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:34.720 And yet, 00:23:35.080 --> 00:23:36.400 Zerubbabel was 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:37.360 the royal heir to 00:23:37.360 --> 00:23:37.840 the throne. 00:23:39.120 --> 00:23:40.140 And probably, 00:23:40.340 --> 00:23:41.300 he was regarded 00:23:41.300 --> 00:23:42.180 as the leader and 00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:42.800 installed as 00:23:42.800 --> 00:23:43.740 governor because of 00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:45.220 his descent from 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:46.220 the kingly line of 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:46.560 David. 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.600 Zerubbabel is 00:23:48.600 --> 00:23:49.759 probably the first 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:51.100 name that most 00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:52.560 of the Jews would 00:23:52.560 --> 00:23:54.360 have recognized in 00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:55.419 Jesus' genealogy. 00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:57.519 The next most 00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.359 familiar name in 00:23:58.359 --> 00:23:58.859 the list was 00:23:58.859 --> 00:23:59.479 likely King 00:23:59.479 --> 00:24:00.919 David, the son 00:24:00.919 --> 00:24:01.659 of Jesse, in 00:24:01.659 --> 00:24:02.419 verse 31. 00:24:03.699 --> 00:24:04.879 And this is part 00:24:04.879 --> 00:24:05.619 of the point of 00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:06.819 this whole genealogy. 00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:07.979 It's to show that 00:24:07.979 --> 00:24:10.059 Jesus is the 00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:10.799 promised son of 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:12.119 David, the 00:24:12.119 --> 00:24:12.459 Messiah. 00:24:13.679 --> 00:24:14.539 And we've talked 00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.299 a lot about that, 00:24:15.399 --> 00:24:16.079 so we won't say 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:16.679 too much more 00:24:16.679 --> 00:24:17.159 about him. 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:19.459 Before David, 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:20.759 you might recognize 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:22.179 Boaz's name if 00:24:22.179 --> 00:24:22.659 you've read the 00:24:22.659 --> 00:24:23.500 Old Testament book 00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:23.959 of Ruth. 00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:25.519 He was the guy 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.519 that married Ruth, 00:24:27.179 --> 00:24:28.099 the Moabite widow 00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:28.979 of his relative. 00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:31.199 And if we keep 00:24:31.199 --> 00:24:32.359 going back, we see 00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:33.579 that all these men 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:34.519 were descendants of 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:36.159 Judah, one of the 00:24:36.159 --> 00:24:36.939 twelve sons of 00:24:36.939 --> 00:24:39.279 Jacob, and the 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.359 other patriarchs as 00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:41.859 well, Isaac and 00:24:41.859 --> 00:24:42.979 Abraham. 00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:45.939 Really significant 00:24:45.939 --> 00:24:46.859 figures in the book 00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:47.439 of Genesis. 00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:50.319 At Abraham is where 00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:51.740 Matthew starts his 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.900 genealogy of the 00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:53.259 genealogy of 00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:53.599 Jesus. 00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:55.120 But Luke just 00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:56.019 decides to keep 00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.720 on going right 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.519 past Abraham 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:59.240 through Shem and 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.339 Noah, all the way 00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:02.460 back to Adam, the 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.519 first man God 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:03.980 created. 00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:09.099 And it's worth 00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:10.019 mentioning that 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:11.180 everything from Adam 00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:12.240 down to King David 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:13.019 was common 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:13.460 knowledge. 00:25:14.120 --> 00:25:15.359 It's all found in the 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:15.819 Old Testament 00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:16.299 scriptures. 00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:17.879 A huge chunk of 00:25:17.879 --> 00:25:18.759 that is found in 00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:20.159 Genesis, and then 00:25:20.159 --> 00:25:21.319 there's the rest of 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:22.099 it's found in Ruth 00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:23.220 and in 1 Chronicles 00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:24.220 chapter 1. 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:26.220 But why does Luke 00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.419 decide to go back 00:25:27.419 --> 00:25:27.799 so far? 00:25:27.879 --> 00:25:28.659 Why go all the way 00:25:28.659 --> 00:25:29.480 back to Adam? 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:32.579 I mean, is he just 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:35.039 like to have a 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:35.799 complete record? 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.359 Is he obsessed with 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:37.839 details? 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.720 Or are there other 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.039 reasons? 00:25:41.419 --> 00:25:42.279 These are the three 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:43.059 reasons that I 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:43.839 thought of. 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:46.339 First, going back 00:25:46.339 --> 00:25:47.299 through all of these 00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:48.419 men should bring to 00:25:48.419 --> 00:25:49.379 mind, if we know the 00:25:49.379 --> 00:25:51.059 scriptures, all of the 00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:52.919 different promises and 00:25:52.919 --> 00:25:54.879 covenants made to each 00:25:54.879 --> 00:25:55.339 one of them. 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.619 And I think Luke wants 00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.919 us to remember exactly 00:25:58.919 --> 00:26:00.220 what was prophesied 00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:05.240 to men like Judah by 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.480 his father Jacob, or 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:07.639 the covenant that God 00:26:07.639 --> 00:26:08.619 made with Abraham. 00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:10.839 I think he even wants 00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:11.899 us to think back to 00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:12.899 what happened. 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:15.679 In the garden, with 00:26:15.679 --> 00:26:16.019 Adam. 00:26:17.379 --> 00:26:18.279 And what this does is 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:19.159 it helps us see that 00:26:19.159 --> 00:26:20.919 this man, Jesus, at the 00:26:20.919 --> 00:26:22.379 end of this long line, 00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:24.179 is the one through whom 00:26:24.179 --> 00:26:26.279 all these promises made 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.799 will be kept. 00:26:30.179 --> 00:26:31.659 The second reason that 00:26:31.659 --> 00:26:33.699 perhaps that he goes 00:26:33.699 --> 00:26:35.939 back to Adam, it 00:26:35.939 --> 00:26:36.839 reminds us of what 00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:37.699 happened with Adam. 00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:40.360 and how he rebelled 00:26:40.360 --> 00:26:41.100 against God. 00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:43.120 How he plunged all of 00:26:43.120 --> 00:26:44.720 humanity into sin and 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.080 guilt. 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:47.700 It reminds us of how we 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:50.180 all became liable to 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:51.360 judgment before God. 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:53.299 But not only this, it 00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:54.819 reminds us that God has 00:26:54.819 --> 00:26:56.380 been unfolding his plan 00:26:56.380 --> 00:26:57.600 to save us since the 00:26:57.600 --> 00:26:59.920 very first day that we 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:00.559 defied him. 00:27:00.860 --> 00:27:01.840 Through all these 00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:04.140 generations, God has 00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:05.640 been working to bring 00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:06.340 our salvation. 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:07.980 And this man at the 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:09.780 end of this line is 00:27:09.780 --> 00:27:10.360 the one. 00:27:11.280 --> 00:27:12.460 He is the Savior who 00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:14.460 can fix what Adam 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:14.840 broke. 00:27:16.560 --> 00:27:17.440 And a third reason. 00:27:17.860 --> 00:27:18.960 Going from Jesus all 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:20.000 the way back to Adam, 00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:21.640 the first man reminds 00:27:21.640 --> 00:27:22.980 us that Jesus is truly 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:23.700 one of us. 00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:26.880 We already heard at the 00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:28.560 beginning the statement 00:27:28.560 --> 00:27:29.520 that reminds us of 00:27:29.520 --> 00:27:30.480 Jesus' divinity. 00:27:31.280 --> 00:27:32.380 That he was the son, 00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:33.880 so it was thought, 00:27:34.060 --> 00:27:34.660 of Joseph. 00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:37.340 But the rest of this 00:27:37.340 --> 00:27:38.820 genealogy highlights his 00:27:38.820 --> 00:27:39.340 humanity. 00:27:40.540 --> 00:27:41.860 He is descended from 00:27:41.860 --> 00:27:43.320 all of these men, 00:27:44.520 --> 00:27:45.660 even the first man, 00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:47.960 because he is truly 00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:50.860 human, truly one of us. 00:27:51.020 --> 00:27:52.040 Luke wants us to feel 00:27:52.040 --> 00:27:52.420 this. 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:55.700 Son of God, yes, but 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:57.300 also son of Adam, 00:27:58.100 --> 00:27:58.880 son of man. 00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:03.060 Another thing that I 00:28:03.060 --> 00:28:03.900 noticed as I was 00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:04.840 studying through this 00:28:04.840 --> 00:28:07.000 is that between Jesus 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:08.680 and David, there are a 00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:10.200 lot of unfamiliar names. 00:28:11.320 --> 00:28:12.580 Maybe you feel that 00:28:12.580 --> 00:28:13.580 when you read through 00:28:13.580 --> 00:28:14.540 this and you just kind 00:28:14.540 --> 00:28:16.080 of feel that urge to 00:28:16.080 --> 00:28:18.440 skim, because how do I 00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:19.400 pronounce that anyway? 00:28:21.760 --> 00:28:23.100 Zerubbabel and Shealtiel 00:28:23.100 --> 00:28:23.980 would be the exception 00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:25.200 here, but other than 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:26.580 them, many unfamiliar 00:28:26.580 --> 00:28:27.160 names. 00:28:27.160 --> 00:28:28.680 Mena, Malaya, 00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:31.040 Jonam, El-Madam, 00:28:31.340 --> 00:28:33.080 Resa, Jossik, Nagai, 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:34.500 Janai, Helai. 00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:36.400 I looked these up in a 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:38.080 concordance, and the 00:28:38.080 --> 00:28:39.300 only time they appear 00:28:39.300 --> 00:28:41.360 in the Bible is right 00:28:41.360 --> 00:28:43.060 here in this genealogy 00:28:43.060 --> 00:28:43.580 of Jesus. 00:28:44.800 --> 00:28:45.759 Some of these were 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.960 common Jewish names 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:49.180 written about or 00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:50.279 mentioned in other 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:51.779 Jewish literature, but 00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:53.160 these men in particular 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:55.820 from Jesus' ancestry are 00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:57.319 all men that we know 00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.319 nothing about today. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:00.399 Their names didn't 00:29:00.399 --> 00:29:01.159 make it into the 00:29:01.159 --> 00:29:02.319 historical writings of 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:04.179 Josephus or into 00:29:04.179 --> 00:29:06.059 other Jewish writings, 00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:07.539 which means that these 00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:09.179 were likely just 00:29:09.179 --> 00:29:10.079 ordinary men. 00:29:12.159 --> 00:29:13.480 People unknown to the 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:15.639 world, not famous, 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:17.639 not well-known, men 00:29:17.639 --> 00:29:18.439 who went about their 00:29:18.439 --> 00:29:20.179 business, worked, 00:29:21.379 --> 00:29:23.960 raised families, and the 00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:25.000 first time we hear about 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:26.799 them in history is here 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:28.120 in this genealogy of 00:29:28.120 --> 00:29:28.480 Jesus. 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.759 I got thinking about 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.100 that. 00:29:32.600 --> 00:29:35.000 God used ordinary men 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:36.720 to bring about his 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.440 great purposes. 00:29:38.840 --> 00:29:39.799 All through these 00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:40.980 generations, the world's 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.960 attention was somewhere. 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:43.740 It was on other things 00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.380 going on. 00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.559 It was on other 00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:46.960 notable figures and 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:48.460 celebrities. 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:51.720 And yet here, in this 00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:53.460 line of people that 00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:54.279 nobody's ever heard 00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:55.440 about, God was working 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:56.380 to bring his great 00:29:56.380 --> 00:29:57.860 salvation through these 00:29:57.860 --> 00:29:59.200 seeming nobodies, 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:02.600 these ordinary dads in 00:30:02.600 --> 00:30:03.180 their days. 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:05.980 God loves to bring great 00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:07.799 things through the 00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:10.480 seemingly common and 00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:10.960 ordinary. 00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:12.460 It's one of his 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.319 signature moves. 00:30:14.360 --> 00:30:15.460 The words of Paul come 00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:16.960 to mind here. 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:18.259 God chose the lowly 00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:19.340 things of this world 00:30:19.340 --> 00:30:20.880 and the despised 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:22.680 things and the 00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:23.720 things that are not 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:25.579 to nullify the 00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:28.319 things that are so 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:30.140 that no one may boast 00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:30.799 before him. 00:30:32.140 --> 00:30:33.519 We sometimes lament 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:35.779 over the fact that the 00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:36.700 names in some of these 00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:37.519 genealogies are 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.740 unfamiliar to us. 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:40.180 You know, like, who 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:40.920 are these guys? 00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:43.000 But what if that's the 00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.319 point? 00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:46.380 Here's a genealogy 00:30:46.380 --> 00:30:47.340 that traces out the 00:30:47.340 --> 00:30:48.400 ancestry of the most 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:50.180 important person in 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:51.140 history. 00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.680 And yet we don't even 00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:53.840 know who half of these 00:30:53.840 --> 00:30:54.320 men are. 00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:57.100 Nobody did until Jesus 00:30:57.100 --> 00:30:58.220 came and somebody got 00:30:58.220 --> 00:30:59.160 these records from 00:30:59.160 --> 00:30:59.460 Mary. 00:31:01.840 --> 00:31:03.120 God has done this in a 00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:06.260 way to keep us from 00:31:06.260 --> 00:31:07.720 putting confidence in 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:09.460 the flesh, as we talked 00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.060 about earlier. 00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:10.119 together. 00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:13.419 Well, we've talked 00:31:13.419 --> 00:31:15.579 about genealogy a lot 00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:16.980 and I hope that some of 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:17.940 this has been helpful to 00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:18.539 you this morning. 00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:21.240 At the end of all this, 00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:22.440 we still may not care 00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:23.440 too much for 00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:25.299 genealogies, just like our 00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:26.179 world around us. 00:31:26.399 --> 00:31:27.539 But there's one. 00:31:28.099 --> 00:31:29.519 There's one that we 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:30.279 should care about. 00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:32.119 And it's this one. 00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:34.599 Here we see in brief 00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:37.479 record form how God's 00:31:37.479 --> 00:31:39.299 loving plan to save us 00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:40.539 unfolded. 00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:42.699 We see how through 75 00:31:42.699 --> 00:31:45.659 plus generations, God 00:31:45.659 --> 00:31:47.919 was faithful and he kept 00:31:47.919 --> 00:31:48.419 his word. 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:51.500 We see God's wisdom in 00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:54.619 choosing ordinary men so 00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:57.279 that no one can boast or 00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:58.279 put confidence in the 00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:58.619 flesh. 00:31:58.619 --> 00:32:00.719 And we see that 00:32:00.719 --> 00:32:03.839 nothing, nothing can 00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:05.839 stop God from doing as 00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:06.579 he has promised. 00:32:08.139 --> 00:32:09.399 So glory be to him. 00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:11.459 Let's pray. 00:32:22.139 --> 00:32:23.279 Father in heaven, thank 00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:24.139 you for these words. 00:32:26.139 --> 00:32:27.639 Maybe not the first 00:32:27.639 --> 00:32:28.359 words that we would 00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:29.339 choose for our favorite 00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:31.759 verses in your word, but 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:33.679 we know that in them is a 00:32:33.679 --> 00:32:34.939 wonderful truth and it 00:32:34.939 --> 00:32:36.459 all points to you and 00:32:36.459 --> 00:32:38.119 your grace, your 00:32:38.119 --> 00:32:39.299 faithfulness, your love, 00:32:39.399 --> 00:32:41.179 your power, your 00:32:41.179 --> 00:32:41.699 salvation. 00:32:43.179 --> 00:32:44.419 We thank you that you 00:32:44.419 --> 00:32:46.099 did send Jesus into our 00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:47.899 world to save us and to 00:32:47.899 --> 00:32:49.359 be our king when he 00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:51.159 returns now and when he 00:32:51.159 --> 00:32:51.579 returns. 00:32:52.219 --> 00:32:53.279 And I pray that our 00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:54.119 hearts would be filled 00:32:54.119 --> 00:32:55.939 with joy because of 00:32:55.939 --> 00:32:56.199 that. 00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:58.799 Pray this in your name. 00:32:58.799 --> 00:32:59.740 Amen.