Being called into a Blessed Lineage
Mt 1:1-17   Lk 3:23-38


A man is driven by his identity.
If you are of a certain position, it will drive how you carry yourself, make choices.

Identity also affects the destiny (shapes mindset and behavior)

The books of gospel 

Genealogy reveals a lot about a person's identity. Based on genealogy, in Jewish b/g, can give you praise or insults, and your inheritances. 

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah. (‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭1-3, 5-6, 12, 16-17‬ NIV)


Some differences in Luke (why)


Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josek, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. (‭Luke‬ ‭3‬:‭23-38‬ NIV)

What does this genealogy has to do with me? 

  1. People elected by God in blessed lineage (god's message for us - to love all, including people who we do not like consciously, or do not look desirable to you. Because we can never guess who Christ can touch, or save)-- god' grace. If god is not gracious, none of us can be called into this blessed lineage 
    1. They are all sinners 
      • No one is too noble or too grand to be elected (david, Abraham) 
      • Even a good man like david, even tho he was called in a very young age and have experienced a lot of grace of God , if we do not safeguard our heart, our flesh will get the better of us.
      • God's grace can cover all of these (big or small sins, imperfections)
      • We can be elected into blessed lineage not because we but God who is good and gracious. But it doesn't mean that we can continue sinning, Jesus said - go and sin no more 
    2. Some are Lowly, scandalous, dubious people
      • Even we will doubt - are they blessed and chosen too? 
      • Scandalous (most despised and looked down) Eg tamer: daughter in law of Judah --> seduces her own father in law (but she is more righteous than Judah, and want to continue the family line of god), Bathsheba, rahab, Mary (Virgin) 
      • Dubious - sometimes when we look into our lives and ungodliness, we also doubt our own life, can we glorify God? 
      • We may not be the smartest, or challenge or character flaws - from the genealogy, regardless of your imperfections, every condition of your life can be a message by god to advance his kingdom, to exalt his grace and comfort many others who are imperfect 
    3. Some are Gentiles 
      • Eg Ruth and rahab 
      • Sometimes god uses the Gentiles to shame the Jews who think so high of themselves, and become self-righteous (supposedly elected)
      • We are all Gentiles, we are thankful that God does not show favouritism.  But sometimes, we classify certain Gentiles in our mind and we define our own Gentiles, and make conclusions that they will not accept Christ, and they will not be able to accept Christ (rationalise to our likings) --spiritual superiority sentiment 
  2. Who Jesus Christ is? 
    1. Jesus Christ = messiah (christ) = anointed = King (of Jews, and mankind)
        • Israelites on exile were waiting and desiring for a messiah to deliver them from their desperation. They are waiting for the king from david lineage 
        • Mt 17: three 14s 
          • 1st 14s: time of father of faith eg ab, Isaac, Joseph / judges(boom and strength - spectacular state of Israel history ) everyone heard and seen the great work of Israel 
            • Even human faith / condition (1st 14s) cannot be sustained, will fail.
          • 2nd 14s: Time of decline, full of disgrace (idolatrous, sin, secularism eg worldliness) 
            • Royal --> exile
            • Failure and weakness of leaders (kings) -- we look to the human kings (visible but limited) cannot save Israel 
          • 3rd 14s: exile --> Christ 
            • When human wits are exhausted --> that's why god needs to bring Jesus (surpass human faith, conditions) --> he doesn't come to be the king of earthly but heavenly kingdom 
        • When Christ has r/s with us --> he doesn't want to give us earthly pleasure but fight spiritual battle with us to free us from spiritual bondage, so that we will be freed of sins. Christ gives us more than just earthly blessings. 
        • Let Christ be the king of life
          • Actions can be copied -->but Jesus wants us to be the king of our hearts not just deeds = hand sovereignty of life to Christ 
            • We may still be imperfect, weak and ... But when you are willing to hand sovereignty to Christ, be assured -- Christ will lift you up
            • May your will be done (vs god you give me this and that)
            • You will acknowledge him as the master in all decisions and things
    2. Jesus reflects God's faithfulness and grace 
        • Son of ab -even 42 generations had passed, god still remember the promise he made to ab.
          • Ab: through you...
          • Jesus's heart: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18-20‬ NIV)
        • Son of david (2 Sam 7:4-17)
        • Adam and Jesus - both are sons of god (Ro 5:12-21)
        • When mans fail, Christ transcends 
          • Jesus reps God's covenant loyalty (god uses imperfection to exemplify his power -- that's why no matter how weak you are, you can still lead..)
  3. Are we also in this blessed lineage
    1. Confirm: Are we born again by the spirit of God?
      • Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭12-13‬ NIV)
      • No matter what conditions you are, god adopts you into his family through HS, when you believe 
      • You are now co-heir in this entire blessings 
      • 2nd gen Christian 
        • Don't take for granted
        • Are you really born again? (Personal relationship with God..do you believe Jesus is god, acknowledge Jesus in every palm without prompting from your family?
    2. When you are in blessed line --> destiny changed 
      • No matter how bad you are, you will not be beyond salvage 
      • No matter how much satan doesn't like you, He cannot harm you
      • You have victory over satan
      • Angels mobilised to help you when you pray in his name. 
      • Vulnerable we are --> when we call upon God, we will be able to resist temptations
      • If we know god loves us --> pray to refrain from being led astray from this identity by our excellent or lousy conditions
    3. Strive hard to set ourselves apart from the world - centre on altar, church, brethren (safeguard our hearts and minds)
      • Centre on the truth 
      • Gather strength on altar --> go out and influence the world