Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Saturday after the Second Sunday after Christmas

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: St. Luke 3:23-38 (NKJV)

23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, 27 the son of Joannas, 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 Elmodam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Jose, 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 Jonan, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, 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 Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Devotion

St. Luke traces Jesus’ earthly lineage all the way to the first man, Adam, who is called “the son of God” because the Lord God brought him forth to live as God’s son amongst the creation, caring for it, naming it, and filling it with little Adams. He failed to live by every word that proceeded from the mouth of the Lord, so He lost His title “son of God” and the image of God with which He was created. Moses shows us this in Adam’s genealogy in Genesis 5:3, how Adam “begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.” Gone was the brilliant image of God in man. Gone was our noble birthright and all the blessings that came along with that sonship.

It is important that Jesus be the Son of God in a way that Adam was not. Jesus is the Only-Begotten Son of God from all eternity and becomes man so that man might be restored to his first position of being sons of God. Christ lives the life Adam failed to live. Whereas Adam failed to live by every Word of God, Christ Jesus lived faithfully under all God’s Word, fulfilling every letter. Jesus takes Adam’s place in His baptism in the Jordan so that He might walk Adam’s path faithfully, enduring Adam’s temptations triumphantly and atoning for the sins of Adam and all Adam’s descendants. Because of that atoning death, all who believe and are baptized into that death and resurrection become sons of God by faith, enjoying all the blessings and benefits of being sons and daughters of God.

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