Advent: The Son (Luke 3)

It’s Christmas! Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. One of my favorite Christmas hymns is “What Child is This?” It begins: “What Child is this who laid to rest on Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping?” Today, we shall answer this important question as we study the genealogy of Jesus from Luke 3. Jesus’ genealogy is important because it connects Jesus to important figures connected to God’s wonderful work of redemption. We see clear evidence of Jesus’ identity as the Messiah, the One through whom God would fulfill his promises to Adam, Abraham, and David.

The King (Luke 3:31)

In the genealogy of Jesus, we read in Luke 3:31 that Jesus is “the Son of David.” Who was David? David was the most famous king of Israel. He wrote most of the Psalms and was instrumental in establishing the kingdom of Israel. Why is it important that Jesus is the Son of David?  As the Son of David, Jesus is the King who rules forever. In 2 Samuel 7:1, David was the King of Israel and “the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies.” David wanted to build a house for the Lord as a sign of his thankfulness, but the Lord had other plans. God sent Nathan the prophet to tell David, “the LORD will make a house for you…I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Sam 7:11-13). 

As the son of David, Jesus is the fulfillment of all the promises God made to David. Commenting on this, the Apostle Peter said “God had sworn with an oath to [David] that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ” (Acts 2:30-31). Paul echoes this, saying: “From the offspring of [David], according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus” (Acts 13:23). Jesus’ birth is worth celebrating because we need a King who saves us and protects us.

The Blessing (Luke 3:34)

In the genealogy of Jesus, we read in Luke 3:34 that Jesus is “the Son of Abraham.” Who was Abraham? Abraham was the man God made a covenant with to be a blessing to the whole world. In Genesis 12:2-3, Abraham left his home to go to a land that the Lord promised to him. The Lord said, “And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” In Genesis 12:7, the Lord made a covenant with Abraham: “To your descendants I will give this land.”

Why is it important that Jesus is the Son of Abraham?  As the Son of Abraham, Jesus is God’s blessing to the world. The Apostle Paul shows the importance of Jesus being a son of Abraham. Galatians 3:7-9 says, “Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the nations will be blessed in you.’ So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.” Paul continues in Galatians 3:16 and tells us that “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as referring to many, but rather to one, ‘And to your seed,’ that is, Christ.” In Galatians 3:29, he writes: “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” Jesus’ birth is worth celebrating because without God’s blessing of salvation we would be lost forever. As the son of Abraham, Jesus is the fulfillment of all the promises God made to Abraham.

The Conqueror (Luke 3:38)

In the genealogy of Jesus, we read in Luke 3:38 that Jesus is “the Son of Adam.” Who was Adam? Adam was the first human created by God. Genesis 1:27 says, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” When Adam and Eve sinned against God, sin and death came into the world (Genesis 2:18) affecting all of creation. Why is it important that Jesus is the Son of Adam? As the Son of Adam, Jesus is the destroyer of death and the Devil. Jesus reverses the curse brought into the world through Adam’s rebellion. Paul wrote, “just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). The Lord told the devil, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15). 

Jesus did what Adam did not do. Jesus brings us life whereas Adam brought death. 1 Corinthians 15:45 says, “‘The first man, Adam, became a living soul.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” Paul, in Romans 5:18-19 wrote: “So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.” Jesus’ birth is worth celebrating because we need a deliverer who will free us from our bondage to sin and death. As the son of Adam, Jesus is the fulfillment of all God’s promises to Adam. 

The Image (Luke 3:38)

In the genealogy of Jesus, we read in Luke 3:38 that Jesus is the Son of God. Who is God? The true and living God, known as Yahweh (Exodus 3:14), is the creator and ruler of everything. God is Trinity: one Being who exists eternally as three Persons (Father, Son, and Spirit). Why is it important that Jesus is the Son of God? Jesus is not just a son of God (like Adam), He is the Son of God. He is the Son of God who is God the Son (the second person of the Trinity). As the Son of God, Jesus “is the image of the invisible God” (Col 1:15). Jesus reveals God to us because He is God. If you ever want to know what God is like, you look to Jesus. God the Father spoke at Jesus’ baptism and said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Jesus’ birth is worth celebrating because God has demonstrated His love for us through Christ. 

What Child is this? This, this is Christ, the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary! Let us remember the reason for the season: Jesus Christ. O come let us adore Him; Christ the Lord!