Advent 13/25

 DAY THIRTEEN (week two; lineage)

Today we will look at the rest of Jesus’s biological line- the one through Mary, found in Luke 3:23-38;

David

Nathan

Mattatha

Menan

Melea

Eliakim

Jonan

Joseph

Judah

Simeon

Levi

Matthat

Jorim

Eliezer

Jose

Er

Elimodam

Cosam

Addi

Melchi

Neri

Shealtiel*

Zerubbabel*

Rhesa

Joannas

Judah

Joseph

Semei

Mattathiah

Maath

Naggai

Esli

Nahum

Amos

Mattathias

Joseph

Janna

Meichi

Levi

Matthat

Heli

Joseph

Wait a second, we did Joseph's line yesterday. Why did Mary’s end with Joseph? Well, this is something debated in the Christian community. After my own research, I can be sure that Luke is writing about Mary’s line here, yet he simply used her husband's name because of tradition. Luke says “Now Jesus …. being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,” in 3:23, whereas Matthew says “Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born,” in 1:16. This wording is important, and points to the fact that Luke was actually following Mary’s family, yet simply followed the ‘correct’ tradition by putting down Joseph’s name.

This is also the most common interpretation of this passage. Yet, I encourage you to research and look into it yourself.

So now we see both sides of Jesus’s family, both fulfilling Old Testament prophecy! Today (though I am posting these late, so I apologize,) I encourage you to pray with me for understanding in God’s Word. It is complex, and almost never surface-level, which is incredible, yet sometimes difficult. Yet, God will use it to give us wisdom and knowledge if we ask for it!