There is a list of names in this chapter which could have been traced when Luke wrote them and known to be correct. They are not all as plain to us now, yet show that Jesus was truly a man on earth, and the time He “was supposed” and called the son of Joseph. Joseph believed the angel, that the Babe to be born to Mary was the promised holy Child from God, and named Him Jesus, which means Saviour. Joseph cared for Jesus as a loved son, taking the hard journey to Egypt to save Him when a baby, and later, when a boy, made the trip back to Jerusalem to find Him (Matthew 1:2525And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. (Matthew 1:25); Matthew 2:1414When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: (Matthew 2:14)).
The Lord’s Genealogy As Man
It was from Joseph that Jesus had a legal right to the throne of the king of Israel, for Joseph was a descendant of David’s son Solomon, shown in the list of names given in Matthew 1.
This list of names by Luke is believed to be the genealogy of Mary, and Heli (Luke 3:2323And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, (Luke 3:23)), the father of Mary; so as a man, Jesus was “of Heli,” who was traced back to another son of King David, Nathan. Then the names are given back to Abraham, the same as in the list of Joseph; but then traced to Adam, the first man.
Luke wrote just before this list, that God spoke from Heaven to Jesus: “Thou art My beloved Son,” then this list shows, as other scriptures, that the Son of God had become a man on earth. This is a mystery, and a great wonder we cannot understand, nor any writer explain; we can only reverence Him and believe God’s words.
A Reason the Lord Became a Man
Do you know the reason given that the Son of God took a body like ours? It was so that He could die for our sins. He did not become an angel, for an angel has not a body the same as men, and does not die (Luke 20:3636Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:36); Luke 24:3939Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. (Luke 24:39)). “Jesus ... was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death. ... For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels, but He took on Him the seed of Abraham” (Hebrews 2:9, 169But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9)
16For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. (Hebrews 2:16)).
“Christ Jesus ... who being in the form of God ... was made in the likeness of men ... became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:5-85Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5‑8)). “When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman ... to redeem them” (Galatians 4:4-54But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:4‑5)).
Jesus most often spoke of Himself as the Son of Man; you can find these words many times in His talks to the people. It is a much more lowly title than the Son of God, but it was as Son of Man that He could die to save His people.
Adam, the first man, lost his right to God’s blessings by sin and so did all others. But Jesus was holy and perfect in all His life on earth, and fulfilled God’s law and work; a son is the heir, so, as the Son of Man, Jesus is heir of all blessings from God, which will someday be known to all.
Further Meditation
1. The genealogy in Luke is traced back to what person?
2. There are many reasons the Lord Jesus became a man including the essential one given in this chapter. Who do you trust more, someone who has never been “in your shoes” or someone who’s been there and understands what you’re going through? In what ways has the Lord Jesus been “in our shoes?”
3. If you’ve been thinking on the Lord Jesus as the one who can sympathize you might enjoying listening to the audio CD Christ’s Intercession as High Priest and as Advocate by R. Thonney.