Luke 3:23-38
23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Reflection
The story of God’s work through Jesus did not begin in Bethlehem. This family tree demonstrates that the arrival of Jesus was the climax of a drama with a plot line as thick as the Old Testament itself. It was a story that began with God’s work in creation where he made Adam, the first human being, in his own image (Luke 3:38). God orchestrated history so that his plans and promises would unfold generation after generation through Adam’s race until the glorious goal was finally reached. Jesus has come at last to bring the story of creation and humanity to its fulfillment (cf. Eph. 1:7–10).
Ephesians 2:1-10
2: And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Reflection
In Ephesians 2:1–3 we see that mankind was dead, disobedient, demonic, and destined for destruction. That’s the bad news. The good news begins in verse 4: “But God!” We were dead, but God made us alive in Christ. We were not merely in need of a helping hand; we were not sinking swimmers in need of a raft; we were stone-cold dead —spiritually lifeless, without a religious pulse, without anything to please God. But he loves the loveless, gives life to the lifeless, and is merciful to those deserving no mercy.
There was nothing we could do to earn this salvation. We are saved by the grace of Christ though faith alone, not because of any works (vv. 8–9). In fact, Paul says that even our faith is a gift from God, leaving no room for boasting of any sort. This does not mean, however, that our good works are pointless. They are not the root of our salvation, but they are the necessary fruit of it. God has prepared good deeds for us, and wants us to demonstrate the reality of our salvation by the way we live our lives (v. 10).
Psalm 33:10-11
10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.
The universe does not exist as a series of random events. The one who carefully orchestrated the family line of Jesus is in absolute control over all things in order to accomplish every purpose he intends. Battle your anxieties with this truth, and entrust your plans to God’s wise and powerful control over the world.