At the Sermon on the Mount?
Did He ever try a broadcast fax
To send His message out?
Did the disciples carry beepers
As they went about their route?
Did Jesus use a modem
At the Sermon on the Mount?
Did Paul use a Laptop
With lots of RAM and ROM?
Were his letters posted on a BBS
At Paul.Rome.Com?
Did the man from Macedonia
Send an E-Mail saying “Come?”
Did Paul use a Laptop
With lots of RAM and ROM?
Did Moses use a Joystick
at the Parting of the Sea?
And a Satellite Guidance Tracking System
To show him where to be?
Did he write the law on tablets
Or are they really on CD?
Did Moses use a joystick
At the parting of the Sea?
Did Jesus really die for us
One day upon a tree?
Or was it just a hologram
Or technical wizardry?
Can you download the Live Action Video Clip
To play on your PC?
Did Jesus really die for us
One day upon a tree?
Have the wonders of this modern age
Made you question what is true?
How a single man in a simple time
Could offer life anew?
How a sinless life, a cruel death
then a glorious life again
Could offer more to a desperate world
Than the inventions of man?
If in your life, the voice of God
Is sometimes hard to hear.
With other voices calling
His doesn’t touch your ear.
Then set aside your laptop and modem
And all your fancy gear.
And open your Bible, open your heart
And let your Father draw you near.
If I can throw a single ray of light across the darkened pathway of another; if I can aid some soul to clearer sight of life and duty, and thus bless my brother; if I can wipe from any human cheek a tear, I shall not have lived my life in vain while here.
If I can guide some erring one to truth, inspire within his heart a sense of duty; if I can plant within my soul of rosy youth a sense of right, a love of truth and beauty; if I can teach one man that God and heaven are near, I shall not then have lived in vain while here.
If from my mind I banish doubt and fear, and keep my life attuned to love and kindness; if I can scatter light and hope and cheer, and help remove the curse of mental blindness; if I can make more joy, more hope, less pain, I shall not have lived and loved in vain.
If by life’s roadside I can plant a tree, beneath whose shade some wearied head may rest, though I may never share its beauty, I shall yet be truly blessed though no one knows my name, nor drops a flower upon my grave, I shall not have lived in vain while here.
As a minister of God, I often remind myself- who’s working in me to do the work of ministry. I can get so caught up in the action of ministry that I leave all sense of true worship and devotion to God. Similar to the Priests of the Old Testament; they offered sacrifices yet their hearts were so far from their lips in worship to Him. I long for a ministry which is first to God and then His people. A place where I can love Him and experience His love radiate upon me to truly love others. We all one day would need to hand over God’s ministry to Him. Joshua 5:13-15, is a fascinating Scripture:
“13When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.”
Thus Jesus is the true shepherd, the true minister and the true message. All else must bow before Him. We are merely servants of the Most High God. Such a privilege -let us do it well and finish the faith in Faith!
I had previously lived in Margate, a little tourist town in Kent which in recent years has received an influx of refugees. During my time there I had experience snobbery and racism of some churches and seen how the local community responded to others that looked or could be compared to a refugee. Refugees are generally treated as the leech of society and those that are primarily responsible for theft and assaults in the community. This sort of reputation made everyone afraid of being kind or compassionate to anyone that looked like a refugee which also included me.
The culture and history of the people of the Bible could teach us a few things. For they were led to the presence of a stranger being seen as an opportunity to love. The norm was hospitality and sharing of one’s home and resources with strangers or sojourners. Over and over, we find stories of visitors being welcomed. Abraham welcomed the strangers by the Oaks of Mamre, who turned out to be messengers from God who blessed him with the promise of a son. In Exodus 2, Moses is welcomed into Reuel’s home. God commanded Moses to set aside cities of refuge in Canaan (for both Israelites and those who sojourned among them) so that people could seek asylum from those who sought to kill them. The widow of Zarephath welcomed Elijah into her home when she had only one meal to offer, but God filled her pantry as fast as it was emptied and Elijah remained for many days.
The foreigner Ruth was generously welcomed by Boaz, Naomi’s kinsman. We know of the hospitality of Mary, Martha, and Zacchaeus to Jesus, and of the disciples to “the man” they met on the road to Emmaus after the crucifixion. When Jesus sent out his disciples to teach and heal in his name, he instructed them to take little with them and trust in the hospitality of those they would meet along the way. Openness to those who needed a place to stay or a bite to eat was, in Biblical times, only the beginning. Sojourners, at times, stayed for months or even years. Moses and Jacob are examples who contributed their labor to their hosts, and each found a wife in their host’s family.
Hospitality involved the offering of food, drink and shelter to the stranger in need, but it was much more than that. Hospitality was an attitude of the heart, out of which such generous actions naturally flowed.
Look at Matthew 2:13-23, even Jesus was a refugee.
13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Herod Kills the Children
16Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
The Return to Nazareth
19But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,20saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
The Bible is a story of God’s intimate involvement with people as they live out their history. It is a story of movement and change as people and nations grow, mix, and take on various characteristics. It is a story of constantly renewed hopes for a better future. Yet, it is a story of God intervening and sending people out in new directions when life begins to look too settled, too full of routine, too full of pleasures, or too weighed down by sin. Hebrews 11, reviews the changes in direction experienced by the Hebrew people and affirms the people of God as “strangers and exiles on earth.” When we study the New Testament, we find God, once again, amidst those who are uprooted.
Jesus, the incarnate God, became a refugee while still an infant, fleeing with his parents to Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath. As an adult, Jesus became an itinerant preacher, wandering with his disciples from place to place, living at times by gleaning from fields those extras that the ancient law ordered left for such sojourners. When Jesus described the last judgment, there was explicit identification of Jesus with the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the prisoner, and the sick. It was in responding to such persons, the disciples were told that they would know they were responding to Jesus.
The popular animation movie, “The Prince of Egypt” is no stranger to many. However many will be surprised to discover that it is a Biblical account of the life of Joseph, the son of Jacob (Israel). The account of Joseph’s life has precious significances to both Christians and Jews alike. For the Christian it is a type of metaphor and picture of Christ Jesus. The key to Joseph’s conduct was his godly character, and the basis for that character was his recognition that he belonged to God and served Him (Genesis 39:9). “The LORD was with Joseph” is often repeated (Genesis 39:2, 3, 21, 23).
Joseph was greatly loved by his father (Genesis 37:3; Matthew 3:17), hated and envied by his brothers (John 15:25; Mark 15:10), plotted against, sold as a slave, arrested unjustly, and made to suffer. But he went from suffering to glory and became the Saviour of the people who had rejected him.
Most would remember Joseph for his “many coloured coat.” However throughout Joseph’s life he wore other garments of which are also of equal importance that many glimpse over. Each change of these garments brought him closer to his destiny and purpose.
The Garments:
Garments of many colours – Gen. 37:3
The coat of many colours was a symbol of Jacob’s love (like our heavenly Father’s love for us) and favour for his beloved son Joseph. Joseph was Jacob’s lovechild that he had always desired from his wife Rachel. He loved her desperately and was so overjoyed to have a firstborn son by her and so he personally made the coat/garment for Joseph. This garment produced envy in his half brothers. Gen. 37:4 it became a symbol of hate to them and was used as a tool of deception when they sold their brother into slavery and bloodied his garment. Gen. 37:31 it makes you think of Jesus when he was like a lamb led to the slaughter. Treachery and hate were the garments that his brothers wore.
Garments of Slavery – Gen. 39:9,12-18
Gen. 39:12-18 Potipher’s wife had lustful desires for Joseph and tore his garment from his body.
She used his garment as a tool of treachery against Joseph. His garment of a favoured slave (he had special privileges above all the other slaves in the house) was ripped from his body and he entered yet another season, prison.
Garments of Prison – Gen. 41:14
We can see ourselves at times in this situation where we are falsely accused. Joseph had to die to self. He was bound and seemingly forgotten. But even as things were beginning to look bleak for Joseph, Gen. 39:21 …the LORD gave him favour.
Garments of audience with Pharaoh - Gen. 41:14
Joseph changed his own garment to go before Pharaoh (we must strip off our filthy garment – our old lifestyles, flesh to go before our King).
Garments of Royalty – Gen. 41: 42
His gift had made room for him and authority was granted to Joseph, Gen. 41:40. His boyhood dream long ago had spoken of his destiny. He was clothed in the finest of raiment, fit for rulership and royalty.
Garments of grave clothes – Gen. 50:25-26
Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Even the threat of death cannot hold us back from our destiny and purpose in God IF we trust that his ways are higher than our ways. The Hebrew author writes, “By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.”
Garments of the Resurrection
All Christians should eagerly await!!!
There’s far more to life for us. We are citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Saviour, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He will make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.
Our current earthly garment will be no comparison to our new resurrection bodies. In 1 Corinthians 15:50-57, we see that our natural, earthy lives don’t in themselves lead us by their very nature into the kingdom of God. Their very “nature” is to die, so how could they “naturally” end up in the Life kingdom?
But let me tell you something wonderful, a mystery I’ll probably never fully understand. We’re not all going to die—but we are all going to be changed. You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet, and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes—it’s over. On signal from that trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. At the same moment and in the same way, we’ll all be changed. In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal. Then the saying will come true:
Death swallowed by triumphant Life!
Who got the last word, oh, Death?
Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?
It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank you!
It is better to flee and lose your garment than fall and lose your character.
The popular animation movie, “The Prince of Egypt” is no stranger to many. However many will be surprised to discover that it is a Biblical account of the life of Joseph, the son of Jacob (Israel). The account of Joseph’s life has precious significances to both Christians and Jews alike. For the Christian it is a type of metaphor and picture of Christ Jesus. The key to Joseph’s conduct was his godly character, and the basis for that character was his recognition that he belonged to God and served Him (Genesis 39:9). “The LORD was with Joseph” is often repeated (Genesis 39:2, 3, 21, 23).
Joseph was greatly loved by his father (Genesis 37:3; Matthew 3:17), hated and envied by his brothers (John 15:25; Mark 15:10), plotted against, sold as a slave, arrested unjustly, and made to suffer. But he went from suffering to glory and became the Saviour of the people who had rejected him.
Most would remember Joseph for his “many coloured coat.” However throughout Joseph’s life he wore other garments of which are also of equal importance that many glimpse over. Each change of these garments brought him closer to his destiny and purpose.
The Garments:
1.Garments of many colours – Gen. 37:3
The coat of many colours was a symbol of Jacob’s love (like our heavenly Father’s love for us) and favour for his beloved son Joseph. Joseph was Jacob’s lovechild that he had always desired from his wife Rachel. He loved her desperately and was so overjoyed to have a firstborn son by her and so he personally made the coat/garment for Joseph. This garment produced envy in his half brothers. Gen. 37:4 it became a symbol of hate to them and was used as a tool of deception when they sold their brother into slavery and bloodied his garment. Gen. 37:31 it makes you think of Jesus when he was like a lamb led to the slaughter. Treachery and hate were the garments that his brothers wore.
2.Garments of Slavery – Gen. 39:9,12-18
Gen. 39:12-18 Potipher’s wife had lustful desires for Joseph and tore his garment from his body.
She used his garment as a tool of treachery against Joseph. His garment of a favoured slave (he had special privileges above all the other slaves in the house) was ripped from his body and he entered yet another season, prison.
3.Garments of Prison – Gen. 41:14
We can see ourselves at times in this situation where we are falsely accused. Joseph had to die to self. He was bound and seemingly forgotten. But even as things were beginning to look bleak for Joseph, Gen. 39:21 …the LORD gave him favour.
4.Garments of audience with Pharaoh - Gen. 41:14
Joseph changed his own garment to go before Pharaoh (we must strip off our filthy garment – our old lifestyles, flesh to go before our King).
5.Garments of Royalty – Gen. 41: 42
His gift had made room for him and authority was granted to Joseph, Gen. 41:40. His boyhood dream long ago had spoken of his destiny. He was clothed in the finest of raiment, fit for rulership and royalty.
6.Garments of grave clothes – Gen. 50:25-26
Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Even the threat of death cannot hold us back from our destiny and purpose in God IF we trust that his ways are higher than our ways. The Hebrew author writes, “By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.”
7.Garments of the Resurrection- All Christians should eagerly await!!!
There’s far more to life for us. We are citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Saviour, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He will make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.
Our current earthly garment will be no comparison to our new resurrection bodies. In 1 Corinthians 15:50-57, we see that our natural, earthy lives don’t in themselves lead us by their very nature into the kingdom of God. Their very “nature” is to die, so how could they “naturally” end up in the Life kingdom?
But let me tell you something wonderful, a mystery I’ll probably never fully understand. We’re not all going to die—but we are all going to be changed. You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet, and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes—it’s over. On signal from that trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. At the same moment and in the same way, we’ll all be changed. In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal. Then the saying will come true:
Death swallowed by triumphant Life!
Who got the last word, oh, Death?
Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?
It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank you!
Christians should not follow these world systems with all its allurements, fleshly displays, and religions of human effort. We must look at the world as if it was on a cross—and the world looks at us as though we were on a cross. Therefore far be it from us to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to us, and we to the world.[1] For all that is in the world is the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Christians are called to be crucified with Christ. It is no longer us who live, but Christ who lives in us. And the life we now live in the flesh we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us. We do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the dead religious routines, then Christ died for no purpose. [2] The atoning work of Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the curse of dead works by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”[3]—All this was done to redeem those who were under the obligations of works by appeasing God for our sinful ways, so that we might receive adoption as sons.[4] Therefore those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.[5]
So all my earthly status, accumulation of possessions, and accolades should all be counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, we should count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For this sake we Christians in times past and some today have suffered the loss of all things, counting it as rubbish, in order that we may gain Christ.[6] We like to boast in our convincing arguments and intellectual understandings yet the Gospel is so simple. We should decide to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.[7] Now that is the sort of knowledge which saves you for all born-again Christians everywhere knows that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.[8]
Christians are not citizens of this planet. We have residence in the heavenliest; where the colour of your skin or the accumulation of accolades and wealth has no commodity. However the only prerequisite is that you be washed by the atoning work of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ the Son of the living God who also walked the earth in the flesh.
The Scriptures mention that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. Bythis we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Many get the impression that Christianity is burdensome with too many do’s and don’ts. In addition you would have to attend boring church services and avoid wearing too bright colours so not to attract attention. Stereotyping Christianity as such is misleading and robs many individuals who genuinely in need of love, joy, and hope. Stereotyping Christianity is not a new thing to our generation, it has been happening since its infancy.
Emperor Nero blamed the Christians for starting a fire which destroyed portions of the city and economically devastating the Roman population.
By the mid 2nd century, mobs could be found willing to throw stones at Christians, and they might be mobilised by rival sects. The Persecution in Lyon was preceded by mob violence, including assaults, robberies and stoning
The Great Persecution is considered the largest. Beginning with a series of four edicts banning Christian practices and ordering the imprisonment of Christian clergy, the persecution intensified until all Christians in the empire were commanded to sacrifice to the gods or face immediate execution. Over 20,000 Christians are thought to have died during Diocletian’s reign.
In 341, Shapur II ordered the massacre of all Christians in Persia. During the persecution, about 1,150 Christians were martyred under Shapur II.
In the 4th century, the Terving King Athanaric began persecuting Christians, many of whom were killed.
Protestants were denounced as heretics and subject to persecution in Spain, Italy and the Netherlands, in which the Catholics were the dominant power. This movement was orchestrated by Popes and Princes as the Counter Reformation. This resulted in religious wars and eruptions of sectarian hatred such as the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.
In recent years
One year later, in August 2007, a Christian missionary couple, Rev. Arif and Kathleen Khan, were gunned down by militant Islamists in Islamabad. The “official” position in Pakistan is that the killer was a fellow Christian, and that the killings were “justified” as an honour killing under the false pretext that the missionaries were engaged in sexual harassment, an assertion widely doubted in the international media, as well as by Pakistani Christians
In August 2009 six Christians including 4 women and a child were burnt alive by Muslim militants and a church set ablaze in Gojra, Pakistan when violence broke out after alleged desecration of Qu’ran.
Attacks on nuns, churches and Christian refugees across India produced fears that Hindu extremists were planning to target minority communities as the country prepared for a general election in 2008. A representative of the local government in Orissa estimated that more than 500 people died as a consequence of the anti-Christian pogrom launched by Hindu fundamentalists. He said he personally authorised the cremation of at least 200 bodies.
In July 2, 2008 a priest was murdered by an obscure local group called Nepal Defence Army, which wanted Hinduism restored as the state religion, and has claimed responsibility for the murder of Johnson Moyalan
In the 11 Northern states of Nigeria that have introduced the Islamic system of law, the Sharia, sectarian clashes between Muslims and Christians have resulted in many deaths, and some churches have been burned. More than 30,000 Christians were displaced from their homes Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria.
There are just too many cases to list of the injustices caused. Christianity seems always to be misunderstood or an extreme sect rises which calls itself Christians and do not follow the teachings of Jesus Christ thereby further presenting a false/misleading view of our Lord Jesus Christ’s teachings. Jesus Christ instructs His disciples, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
The Lord Jesus has already prepared us for such a life of misunderstandings. People who are not Christians claiming to be yet living contrary lives and those who simply just hate us. Jesus says to us “blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Christians are here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. But some have lost their saltiness, therefore people can’t taste godliness? Christians bring hope to a hopeless world.
Jesus Christ tells His disciples in John 15:17-26
17 This is my command: Love each other. 18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the One who sent me. 22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. 25 This fulfils what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’
Therefore I would suggest that you do not dismiss Christianity merely on what you read or the impressions you have perceived from stereotypes. However to know what true Christianity means one would first need to be born-again. Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.7For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
In James 1:2-4, states that we are to consider it a sheer gift, when tests and challenges come at us from all sides. We must know that under pressure, our faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours. So we should not try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so that we become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. David in the twenty-seventh Psalm shows us the attitude and confidence we should have in trying circumstances.
Psalm 27
1The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
David refers to the Lord as his LIGHT and SALVATION. In addition God is his stronghold in his life. Therefore he remarks, “Why should I be fearful or afraid?”
Why should you be afraid? For those that are afraid says the Scriptures in 1 John 4:17-18, God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.
We usually are fearful when we do something wrong, we are fearful of the consequences or the punishment awaiting. So why should a Christian fear? Christians[1] are in a right standing with God because of Jesus atonement and therefore we need not be afraid of anything.
In Colossians 3:1-4, it states
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
So, if our lives are hidden with God then we too can say,
Psalms 91
You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
spend the night in His shadow, Say this:“God, you’re my refuge.
I trust in you and I’m safe!” That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
under them you’re perfectly safe;
his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
not flying arrows in the day, Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your refuge,
the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you,
harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels
to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
their job is to keep you from falling.
You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
“If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God,
“I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
if you’ll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life,
give you a long drink of salvation!”
Do not fear!
For He that is in you is greater than he that is in the World.
Isaiah 41:10 10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
What makes a Prophetic Word credible? Would it not be the simple fulfilment of that Word?
In Matthew 1:18-24,
18Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,
We read that Matthew depicts Jesus Christ as the fulfilment of a prophetic word as predicted in Isaiah 7:14. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” This prophecy was not given during Matthew’s lifetime, nor was it spoken during his grandfather’s lifetime. In fact it is approximately 700 years old. It is true that the Hebrew word used by Isaiah can also be translated “maiden.” However when a group of rabbis translated this verse into Greek in what is known as the Septuagint Version of the Hebrew Scriptures (about 285 BC), they used a Greek word that can only mean “virgin.” Likewise, when Matthew quoted this verse in his Gospel (Matthew 1:23) and applied it to Jesus, he used the same Greek word that can only be translated “virgin.”
In Genesis 3:15, we read that, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
The Lord pronounced when He found our first parents, Adam and Eve, guilty of sin. The Lord is speaking to Satan, who has enticed “the woman,” Eve, into disobeying the Lord’s command against eating fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He is saying that Satan will someday be crushed and thereby utterly defeated by the seed of the woman. The pronoun used to designate the seed is “his” (in “his heel”). In place of “it” (in “it shall bruise”), the more accurate translation is “he”
Therefore, the coming conqueror must be a single man. But why is He called the seed of a woman? A child is ordinarily regarded as the seed of his father and forefathers. The striking and unnatural character of the expression “her seed” suggests that it is a uniquely fitting name for the victor over Satan. Unlike other men, He would be the seed of a woman only. He would not be a man’s seed. A virgin would conceive Him without losing her virginity.
A third prophecy is found in Jeremiah 31:22, “The Lord has created a new thing in the earth — a woman will encompass a man.” This is a rather enigmatic prophecy, but the important thing about it is that Jewish rabbis over the centuries have interpreted it to mean that the Messiah will have a miraculous origin. As one rabbi put it, the conception of the Messiah will be “like the dew of the Lord upon a woman.”
Numerous Old Testament prophecies deal with the Messiah so that the devout could identify Him when He came. Christ fulfilled those prophecies, including being born of a virgin. But besides pointing to the Messiah, the virgin birth has other significances.
Christ had to be fully human connected to Adam but not contaminated with a sin nature. Jesus was not merely cloned from Mary’s genes because He would have been a sinner as Mary was. Christ was born a sinless male, though genetically connected to the human race of Adam.
Christ had the legal right to rule through his legal father, Joseph, the son of David. Had the line of David been honoured, Joseph would have been king in Israel. In this way, Christ was genetically connected to David through Mary, had the right to rule because Joseph was his legal father, but still avoided the curse pronounced on Joseph’s forefather, Coniah (Jehoiachin) in Jeremiah 22:30 (See my previous blog)
One thing is certain. The virgin birth is not irrelevant. It is essential to the deity of Jesus. And the deity of Jesus is essential, in turn, if His death had any meaning at all. Paul ties it all together in Galatians 4:4-5: “God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
To deny the virgin birth is to deny the deity of Jesus, for without the virgin birth Jesus is just another man born with the flawed sin nature inherited by all of us from Adam. And if Jesus is just a man, then we have no hope whatsoever.
When most people read the genealogy of Jesus Christ they cannot fully understand its purpose. This blog is intended to go through the various names listed and seeing its importance in relation to its purpose. If you have the time and the patience to read this entire blog I am sure it will bless you. (If you do not wish to read the blog, at least watch the video).
Matthew 1
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 17So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
The account is in Matthew 1:1-17.
Matthew wrote to the Jews to present Jesus as King of the Jews.
It begins by showing Jesus was a legal heir to the throne of David, by virtue of his lineage.
This fact is immediately set forth in verse one, which states Jesus was the “son of David, the son of Abraham.” His kinship to David the King of Israel is mentioned before that of Abraham, the father of Israel.
Matthew’s genealogy traces the ancestors of Joseph, the legal father of Jesus.
Structure of Genealogy
Matthew’s structure descends from father to son, beginning with Abraham. Additionally, he divides the genealogy into three groups of fourteen generations, separated by important historic points (Matthew 1:17).
Three Divisions
The three divisions of Matthew’s genealogy are:
1. Abraham to the reign of King David (Matthew 1:2-6).
2. David’s kingdom to the Babylonian captivity (Matthew 1:6-11).
3. Release from Babylonian captivity to Christ (Matthew 1:12-16).
Among the four Gospels, Matthew and Luke have a record of genealogy; Mark and John do not.
Matthew Traces the Roots to Abraham and not Adam
The kingdom, of which Christ is the King, is composed of Abraham’s descendants, including both his descendants in the flesh and those in faith. Hence, the genealogy of Christ in Matthew begins with Abraham, the father of the called race, not with Adam, the father of the created race.
God’s kingdom is not built with the created race of Adam but with the called race of Abraham, which includes both the real Israelites (Rom. 9:6-8) and the believers in Christ (Gal. 3:7, 9, 29).
To prove by relating His genealogy that Jesus is a proper man qualified to be the Saviour of mankind, Luke traces His genealogy back to Adam, the first generation of mankind. In the genealogy of Jesus given by Luke, which proves that He is a proper man, the title Christ is not mentioned (Luke 3:23-38). But in the genealogy of Christ given here by Matthew, which proves that He is the King, the Christ of God, the title Christ is emphasized repeatedly (vv. 1, 16-17).
Solomon is a type of Christ as the son of David, the One who inherits the throne and kingdom of David (2 Sam. 7:12-13; Luke 1:32-33). Solomon, as a type of Christ, did mainly two things: he built the temple of God in the kingdom (1 Kings 6:2) and spoke the word of wisdom (1 Kings 10:23-24; Matt. 12:42). Christ, in fulfilling this type, is now building the real temple of God, the church, in the kingdom of God and has spoken the word of wisdom.
Isaac is a type of Christ as the son of Abraham, the One who inherits the promise and blessing God gave to Abraham (Gen. 22:17-18; Gal. 3:16, 14). Isaac also, as a type of Christ, did mainly two things: he obeyed his father even unto death and was resurrected from death (Gen. 22:9-10; Heb. 11:19), and he took Rebekah, a Gentile woman, as his wife (Gen. 24:61-67). Christ, in fulfilling this type, was put to death and offered to God and was resurrected from death, and He is taking the church as His bride out of the Gentiles.
Abraham begot eight sons (Gen. 16:15; 21:2-3; 25:2). Among those eight, only Isaac is counted as the promised seed (Rom. 9:7-8). Hence, Christ is his descendant to fulfill God’s promise given to Abraham and to him (Gen. 22:18; 26:4).
Isaac begot twin sons, Esau and Jacob (Gen. 25:21-26), but only Jacob was chosen by God (Rom. 9:10-13). Hence, Christ is his descendant to fulfill God’s promise given to Abraham, to Isaac, and to him (Gen. 22:18; 26:4; 28:14).
The birthright of the promised seed consists of the double portion of the land, the priesthood, and the kingship. Reuben, as the firstborn son of Jacob, should have inherited the birthright. But because of his defilement he lost the birthright (Gen. 49:3-4; 1 Chron. 5:1-2). The double portion of the land went to Joseph through his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim (Josh. 16—17); the priesthood went to Levi (Deut. 33:8-10); and the kingship was given to Judah (Gen. 49:10; 1 Chron. 5:2). Hence, Christ, the King of God’s kingdom, is a descendant of Judah (Heb. 7:14); as such, He inherits the kingdom. Neither the brothers of Isaac nor the brother of Jacob, but only the brothers of Judah, are mentioned in this genealogy, because only Judah’s brothers were chosen by God.
Pharez and Zarah were twins. At the time of delivery Zarah put out his hand, and the midwife marked it with a scarlet thread, indicating that he would be the firstborn. However, Pharez preceded him to be the firstborn (Gen. 38:27-30). Pharez was not chosen by man but was sent by God, proving that it was not by man’s choice but by God’s.
In the genealogy of Adam no woman is recorded (Gen. 5:1-32), but in this genealogy of Christ five women are mentioned. Only one of these five was a chaste virgin—Mary, a descendant of the chosen race. Of her, Christ was directly born (v. 16). Among the rest—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth (v. 5), and Bathsheba, who had been the wife of Uriah (v. 6)—some were Gentiles, some were remarried, and three were even sinful—Tamar committed incest, Rahab was a prostitute, and Bathsheba committed adultery. This indicates that Christ is related not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles, even to the sinful people, and is the kingly Saviour of typical sinners. Tamar was Judah’s daughter-in-law. Judah begot Pharez and Zarah of her by incest (Gen. 38:6-30).
Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho (Josh. 2:1), a place cursed by God for eternity (Josh. 6:26). After she turned to God and God’s people (Josh. 6:22-23, 25; Heb. 11:31) and married Salmon, a leader of Judah, the leading tribe (1 Chron. 2:10-11), she brought forth Boaz, a godly man, out of whom Christ came. Regardless of our background, if we turn to God and His people and are joined to the proper person among God’s people, we will bring forth proper fruit and participate in the enjoyment of the birthright of Christ. Boaz redeemed his kinsman’s inheritance and married the man’s widow (Ruth 4:1-17). By so doing he became a notable forefather of Christ, a great associate of Christ. Boaz’s mother, Rahab, was a Canaanitess and a prostitute, and his wife, Ruth, was a Moabitess of incestuous origin and a widow. Both were Gentiles and of low class, yet they are associated with Christ. Christ is joined not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles, even to those of low estate.
The origin of Ruth was incest, for she belonged to the tribe of Moab (Ruth 1:4), the fruit of Lot’s incestuous union with his daughter (Gen. 19:30-38). Deuteronomy 23:3 forbade the Moabites to enter the assembly of Jehovah, even to the tenth generation. Ruth, however, not only was accepted by the Lord but also became one of the most important ancestors of Christ because she sought God and God’s people (Ruth 1:15-17; 2:11-12). Regardless of who we are and what our background is, as long as we have a heart that seeks God and His people, we are in a position to be accepted into the birthright of Christ.
Isaiah 11:1 prophesied that Christ would be “a twig (lit.) out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch…out of his roots.” Christ came out of Jesse. However, Isa. 11:10 says that Christ is the root of Jesse, indicating that Jesse came out of Christ. Jesse was one who brought forth Christ, one who branched out Christ by being rooted in Christ.
David was the eighth son of his father and was chosen and anointed by God (1 Sam. 16:10-13). The number eight signifies resurrection. That David as the eighth son was chosen by God indicates that his association with Christ was in resurrection. Furthermore, he was a man after the heart of God (1 Sam. 13:14) and brought in God’s kingdom for Christ.
David was the last of the generations of the fathers. He was also the first of the generations of the kings. He was the conclusion of one age and the beginning of the next. He became the landmark of two ages because he brought in the kingdom of God and was closely associated with Christ. In this genealogy, only David is called “the king” because it was through him that the kingdom with the kingship was brought in.
The genealogy in Matthew says that David begot Solomon, but the genealogy in Luke says that Nathan was the son of David (Luke 3:31). First Chronicles 3:5 tells us that Nathan and Solomon were two different persons. Luke’s record is the genealogy of David’s son Nathan, who was Mary’s forefather, whereas Matthew’s record is the genealogy of David’s son Solomon, who was Joseph’s forefather. One genealogy is the line of Mary, the line of the wife; the other is the line of Joseph, the line of the husband. Both Mary and Joseph were descendants of David. Under God’s sovereignty they were joined together by marriage, so that through Mary, Joseph was indirectly associated with Christ. Christ can be counted as a descendant of David through either Solomon or Nathan. Hence, Jesus has two genealogies.
Strictly, Solomon was not a direct forefather of Christ. His relationship with Christ was indirect, through the marriage of Joseph, his descendant, to Mary, of whom Christ was born (v. 16). The Old Testament did not say that Christ would be Solomon’s descendant, but it prophesied repeatedly that Christ would be a descendant of David (2 Sam. 7:13-14; Jer. 23:5). Although Christ was not a direct descendant of Solomon, the Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ as a descendant of David were nevertheless fulfilled.
Uriah was a Hittite, a heathen, and his wife was Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:3). David murdered him and took Bathsheba. Hence, she was remarried as a result of murder and adultery (2 Sam. 11:26-27). David, a man after the heart of God, did right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of his life, except for this one evil (1 Kings 15:5). This genealogy does not say “of Bathsheba” but “of her who had been the wife of Uriah,” to emphasise this great sin of David’s, thus showing that Christ as the kingly Savior is related not only to the heathen but also to sinners.
Beginning with Rehoboam, the kingdom of David was divided (1 Kings 11:9-12; 12:1-17). Of the twelve tribes, one was kept for David’s sake (1 Kings 11:13), that is, for Christ. Christ needed the kingdom that belonged to the house of David, because He had to be born as an heir to David’s throne.
After being divided, the kingdom of David was in two parts. The northern part was called the kingdom of Israel (a universal name) and was composed of ten tribes of Israel; the southern part was called the kingdom of Judah (a local name) and was composed of two tribes, Judah and Benjamin. Although the kingdom of Israel was more universal than that of Judah, not one of the names of the kings of Israel was included in the genealogy of Christ. The kings of Israel were excluded because they were not associated with Christ. They were for something other than Christ.
The genealogy here records that “Joram begot Uzziah.” However, 1 Chron. 3:11-12 says, “Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, Amaziah his son, Azariah” (who is Uzziah—2 Kings 15:1, 13). Three generations—Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah—were omitted. This must have been because of the evil marriage of Joram and the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, which corrupted Joram’s descendants (2 Chron. 21:5-6; 22:1-4). In accordance with Exo. 20:5, three generations of Joram’s descendants were cut off from the genealogy of Christ.
The genealogy here records that “Josiah begot Jeconiah.” However, 1 Chron. 3:15-16 says, “The sons of Josiah…the second Jehoiakim…and the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son.” One generation—Jehoiakim—was omitted from the genealogy of Christ. This must have been because he was made king by Pharaoh of Egypt and collected taxes for Pharaoh (2 Kings 23:34-35).
Jeconiah was not reckoned a king in the genealogy, because he was born during the captivity and was a captive (2 Chron. 36:9-10—Jehoiachin is Jeconiah). According to the prophecy in Jer. 22:28-30, none of Jeconiah’s descendants would inherit the throne of David. If Christ had been a direct descendant of Jeconiah, He would not have been entitled to the throne of David. Although Jer. 22:28-30 says that all the descendants of Jeconiah are excluded from the throne of David, Jer. 23:5 says that God would raise up a Shoot to David, a King who would reign and prosper. This Shoot is Christ. This prophecy confirms that Christ would be the descendant of David, although not a direct descendant of Jeconiah, and would inherit the throne of David.
Referring to the carrying away of the children of Israel into captivity in Babylon. So in v. 17. Even those who were carried away as captives to Babylon were included in this sacred record of Christ’s genealogy because they had an indirect relationship with Christ through Mary, the wife of one of their descendants and the mother of Jesus.
“Jeconiah begot Salathiel, and Salathiel begot Zerubbabel.” Compare this record with 1 Chron. 3:17-19, which says, “The sons of Jeconiah… Salathiel…and Pedaiah…and the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel,” showing that Zerubbabel was the son of Pedaiah, Salathiel’s brother. Zerubbabel was not Salathiel’s son but was his nephew, and he became his heir. Perhaps this was a case in accordance with Deut. 25:5-6. Even that word in Deuteronomy is related to the genealogy of Christ.
Zerubbabel was one of the leaders who returned to Jerusalem from the captivity in Babylon (Ezra 5:1-2). He was also a leader in the rebuilding of God’s temple (Zech. 4:7-10). The Old Testament predicted that Christ, as a descendant of David, would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matt. 2:4-6). Without the return from captivity, it would not have been possible for Christ to be born in Bethlehem. God’s command that the captives return was not only for the rebuilding of the temple of God but also to prepare for Christ to be born in Bethlehem. Christ needed some people to be in the proper place to bring Him to earth the first time. Similarly, for His second coming Christ needs some of His people to return from their captivity to the proper church life.
Here the genealogy says that “Jacob begot Joseph,” but Luke 3:23 says, “Joseph, the son of Heli.” Luke’s record was “according to law” (a literal translation of “so it was thought” in Luke 3:23), indicating that Joseph was not actually the son of Heli but was reckoned his son according to the law. Joseph was the son-in-law of Heli, Mary’s father. This may be a case according to Num. 27:1-8 and 36:1-12, in which a regulation was made by God that if any parents had only daughters as heirs, the inheritance would go to the daughters, who would then have to marry a man of their own tribe in order to keep their inheritance within that tribe. Even such a regulation in the Old Testament is related to the genealogy of Christ, showing that all Scripture is a record of Christ.
At this point the record of this genealogy does not say, “Joseph begot Jesus,” which is similar to what is said of all the foregoing persons; it says, “Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus.” Jesus was born of Mary, and not of Joseph, since it was prophesied that Christ would be the seed of the woman and would be born of a virgin (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14). Christ could not have been born of Joseph because Joseph was a man and a descendant of Jeconiah, none of whose descendants could inherit the throne of David (Jer. 22:28-30). However, Mary was a virgin and a descendant of David (Luke 1:27, 31-32); as such, she was the right person of whom Christ should be born. The marriage of Joseph and Mary brought Joseph into relationship with Christ and united into one the two lines of Christ’s genealogy for the bringing in of Christ.
The generation of Jesus Christ begins from God and continues until it reaches Jesus. It proceeds from God to Adam, from Adam to Abraham, from Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, and on to David. After David it divides into two lines, the first running from Nathan to Mary and the second from Solomon to Joseph. Eventually, these two lines are brought together by the marriage of Mary and Joseph, to bring in Jesus Christ. In this way Christ was apparently a descendant of Jeconiah, who seemed to be in the line of the royal family; actually, He was not a descendant of Jeconiah, Joseph’s forefather, but a descendant of David, Mary’s forefather, so that He could qualify to inherit the throne of David.
This genealogy first mentions four women who were either remarried or sinful. In addition, here it mentions a chaste virgin. This indicates that all the persons named in this genealogy were born in sin, except Christ, who was born in holiness.
Abraham, David, and Mary were the three persons crucial to the bringing in of Christ. It was through these three kinds of lives that Christ was brought forth into humanity.
Abraham represents a life by faith;
David, a life under the dealing of the cross; and
Mary, a life of absolute surrender to the Lord.
This genealogy is divided into three ages:
(1) from Abraham until David, fourteen generations, the age before the establishing of the kingdom;
(2) from David until the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations, the age of the kingdom;
(3) from the deportation to Babylon until the Christ, again fourteen generations, the age after the fall of the kingdom. According to history, there were actually forty-five generations. By deducting from these generations the three cursed generations and the one improper generation, and then adding one by making David two generations (one, the age before the establishing of the kingdom, and the other, the age of the kingdom), the generations total forty-two, being divided into three ages of fourteen generations each. The number fourteen is composed of ten plus four. Four signifies creatures (Rev. 4:6); ten signifies fullness (25:1). Hence, fourteen signifies the creatures in full. Fourteen generations being multiplied by three indicates that the Triune God mingles Himself with the creatures in full.
This genealogy is of three sections: the section of the fathers, the section of the kings, and the section of the civilians, which includes the captured ones and the recovered ones. God the Father corresponds with the section of the fathers, God the Son with the section of the kings, and God the Spirit with the section of the civilians. This too indicates the mingling of the Triune God with His human creatures.
David is the end of the generations of the fathers and the beginning of the generations of the kings. He was the one person used by God as a landmark to conclude the section of the fathers and to begin the section of the kings. At the time of degradation no person was there as a landmark to demarcate the generations as did Abraham and David. Thus, the deportation became a landmark, a landmark of shame.
Luke’s record begins with Jesus and traces back to God. Matthew’s record proceeds from Abraham to Christ. Luke goes back and up to God; Matthew comes forward and down to Christ. All the generations were directed to Christ and brought in Christ. Christ is the goal, the consummation, the conclusion, the completion, and the perfection of all the generations; as such, He fulfills their prophecies, solves their problems, and meets their needs. When Christ comes, light, life, salvation, satisfaction, healing, freedom, rest, comfort, peace, and joy all come with Him. From this point on, the whole New Testament is a full expounding of this wonderful Christ, who is everything to us. Hallelujah, Christ has come! (back to v. 17)
Lit., out of. Although Christ was born of Mary (v. 16), He was a child of the Holy Spirit. The birth of Christ was directly of the Holy Spirit (v. 20). His source was the Holy Spirit and His element was divine. Through the virgin Mary He put on flesh and blood, the human nature, taking the likeness of the flesh (Rom. 8:3), the likeness of men (Phil. 2:7). (back to v. 18)
A righteous man at that time was one walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord (Luke 1:6), i. e. , one who was living according to the law of God with the propitiation made by the offerings.
God was first born into Mary through His Spirit; after the conception was completed, He, with the human nature, was born to be a God-man, possessing both divinity and humanity. This is the origin of Christ.
Jesus is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name Joshua (Num. 13:16), which means Jehovah the Saviour, or the salvation of Jehovah. Hence, Jesus is not only a man but Jehovah, and not only Jehovah but Jehovah becoming our salvation. Thus, He is our Savior. He is also our Joshua, the One who brings us into rest (Heb. 4:8; Matt. 11:28-29), which is Himself as the good land to us.
This son of the virgin is the seed of the woman prophesied in Gen. 3:15. Jesus was the name given by God, whereas Emmanuel, meaning God with us, was the name by which man called Him. Jesus the Savior is God with us. He is God, and He is also God incarnated to dwell among us (John 1:14). He is not only God but God with us. Christ as the very Emmanuel not only was with us when He was on earth, but also is with us, since His ascension, whenever we are gathered into His name (18:20). Moreover, He will be with us all the days until the consummation of the age (28:20).
The birth of Christ was prepared and accomplished by God’s sovereignty. By His sovereignty God brought back to Judea from the captivity in Babylon the ancestors of both Joseph and Mary under the leadership of their forefather Zerubbabel (v. 12; Ezra 5:1-2). Again by His sovereignty God placed both Joseph and Mary in the same city, Nazareth (Luke 1:26; 2:4). Even more, by His sovereignty God brought Joseph and Mary together in marriage so that Christ could be brought in as the legal heir to the throne of David.
Posted by Brendon Naicker 
Posted by Brendon Naicker 
Posted by Brendon Naicker 
Christians should not follow these world systems with all its allurements, fleshly displays, and religions of human effort. We must look at the world as if it was on a cross—and the world looks at us as though we were on a cross. Therefore far be it from us to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to us, and we to the world.