Inspirational Bible Verses for Advent: 3

Genealogies have a purpose. Two are listed for Jesus. In Matthew ch.1 we are given Joseph's genealogy, displaying a lineage back to Adam - giving a clear context for why Jesus is here. Significan characters are chosen from His family tree to show a symmetry that would hit home to people looking for a king who would literally split time in two and herald the final age of humanity.

Most fascinating of all, is the fact that as well as Mary, there are four other women mentioned in His genealogy: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. The negative history of any of the four would, at first glance, appear to disqualify Jesus from His kingly title. But, the point is to demonstrate that the Almighty God is a God of grace who forgives, reconciles, brings aliens and enemies into the family tree of His own Son. He has power to forgive sin and redeem the past of anyone - no matter what they had done - such is the all-consuming grace of an omnipotent God; a God for everyone.

In Luke ch.3 we see a different structure - listing his biological parentage, rather than a ceremonial list inherited from his adoptive human father. I don't feel that I can improve on what has been written elsewhere on the subject.

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