Many years ago, when I was a “real pastor” (meaning, I was a pastor of a local congregation), I had a nonbeliever who began to attend my church. After many months of meeting together, the Lord blessed him with new life and he embraced Jesus as his Lord and Savior. It was a very exciting and meaningful time. I knew that one way for him to grow in his newfound faith was to read the Holy Scriptures. So, I encouraged him to do so. In his new love for Christ, he was also zealous to read the Word. So, he decided to do so by starting at the beginning, namely the Book of Genesis. No reading chart, reading plan, or daily Bible reading program. Just start at Genesis and go through the entire bible.
I recall his comments as he read through Scripture. Genesis 1-3 was fine. Lots of exciting stuff. The creation of the heavens and the earth (Gen 1). This was followed by the cultural mandate, the probation, and the creation of woman (Gen 2). The fall of humanity; that one was mind blowing for this new believer (Gen 3). Genesis 4 was also action-packed with the sibling rivalry of Cain and Abel and the introduction to the institution of the civil magistrates (Gen 4:15). But that is when he ran into some issues. Genesis 4:17 begins the genealogy of Cain. Several names were difficult to read, but he powered through and pressed on. However, Genesis 5 is another genealogy (of Adam through Seth), longer than the genealogy of Cain. Not only were these names difficult to read, but he also didn’t understand why it was necessary to provide such a list. What purpose can they serve? Well, he thought “The Bible is the Bible,” so he continued. Genesis 6-9 was fantastic! The flood narrative, and he loved it (they should really make a movie about this). But then he hit another slow section in Genesis 10, a long list of names that looks like a genealogy. He pressed through it, but to only find another long genealogy in Genesis 11!
Well, at that point, he said “Maybe I will come back to the Old Testament later. Let’s try something new.” He decided to give the New Testament a go. So, he goes the Gospel of Matthew, and in chapter 1, what does he find? Yet another genealogy!
Another Genealogy
Yes, another genealogy! Perhaps many of us have had that same experience. What does this list of names have to do with us? If you have tried to read through the Bible (and you definitely should do so), then you may tripped up in these lists as well, way before you get to Leviticus! They are not as exciting as the newest action scene. I grant that. However, they are so important, and, when they are genuinely understood, they tell a narrative of the faithfulness of God, the fallenness of humanity, and the beauty of our salvation in Christ. That is one reason why I love to study these genealogies. They are about Jesus. But they are also about me. And, although it may not seem so, they are also about you! So, for the next several posts, let’s meditate on genealogies and witness the message and wonders of the gospel that are within them.
Jesus’s genealogy
To get started, we will focus on one genealogy, namely the genealogy of Jesus Christ that is found in Matt 1:1-17. We should not miss the important fact right off the bat: Jesus has a genealogy! This affirms his humanity. In the same way that every person in this list was born into the world, so Jesus Christ was also born into this world. Yet, immediately after this genealogy, in Matt 1:18-23, the gospel writer goes on to describe the unique nature of this birth: he is virgin-born and his name of “Jesus.” The name “Jesus” is made up of two parts. The first part is “Je,” which is a hyper-shortened version of the divine name of the covenant God of the OT, Yahweh. The second is “Shua,” is means salvation. So, “Jesus” means “Yahweh is (our) salvation.” This child is given this name because the child “will save his people from their sins” (Matt 1:21). If the child’s name is “Yahweh will save” and the child is the one who “will save his people,” then the child must be Yahweh. Matthew, therefore, opens his gospel in a powerful way, the birth of the God-man! This human-born infant is Yahweh manifest in the flesh, and He will be the one to save His people from divine condemnation.
Seed of the Woman
But there is another observation worth noting. It is so obvious that it is easy to miss—this is a genealogy! When we think of genealogies, there are several in the OT. We mentioned some of the big ones in Gen 5 and 11. There is also the genealogy at the end of Ruth 4. The Book of Chronicles opens with a nine-chapter genealogy! One purpose of these genealogies is to show the development of the “seed of the woman” in the all-important Genesis 3:15. As often as this passage is cited in sermons, books, articles, and so many other mediums, I’m not sure if we still understand how important it is! Recall that this verse promises that a champion-seed who is born of a woman will arrive on the redemptive scene to strike a devastating crush on the head of the serpent. Although this blessed line has been threatened and brought to near extinction, it continues, thus preserving the coming of this future victor. The genealogies affirm, therefore, that the Lord was faithful to that promise throughout the OT and it is fulfilled in Christ who is that great Seed. Of all genres to begin his gospel, the fact that Matthew begins with a genealogy is his way of proclaiming to us that Jesus is that great Seed and our salvation has come! We do not need to falter in despair any longer; there is hope for our guilt and the corruption of sin. There is a new life for us in a pure bond of fellowship with our Lord. All this is a realized blessed because Christ, the True Seed of the woman, has come. This is so important that Matthew will actually refer to Gen 3:15 once again in his genealogy (just wait for it). All this then tells us who Jesus is and what He will do for us.
Not a bad way to start off the New Testament!
Redeeming Chillingworth 