This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah 
the son of David, 
the son of Abraham: 
Abraham was the father of Isaac, 
Isaac the father of Jacob, 
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers… 
and Jacob the father of Joseph, 
the husband of Mary, 
and Mary was the mother of  
Jesus who is called the Messiah.   
Matthew 1:1-16 

 

Christmas can easily spiral downward to a series of never-ending lists: 

• Gifting List (two-tiered: what is bought and what is yet-to-be bought) 
• Baking List (both for home and for gifts) 
• Mailing List (packages, Christmas cards) 
• Decorating List (inside, outside, etc.) 
• Hosting List (why do we try to cram a year’s worth of hospitality into one month?) 

It’s interesting to note that the New Testament begins with a list. Matthew 1 provides a very special list: the genealogy of our Lord Jesus. 

This list begins by identifying Jesus with the two most prominent figures in Jewish history: Abraham and David. Because Matthew was targeting a Jewish audience, this connection was key in validating Jesus as King of the Jews. 

The genealogy begins with Abraham, the Father of the Jewish nation and ends with Jesus. Verse 16 is significant: 

Jacob the father of Joseph, 
the husband of Mary, 
and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.  

Mary was a virgin but married to Joseph. Jesus was not the physical son of Joseph but was his legal son. As the legal son of Joseph, this genealogy traces the lineage of Jesus back to Abraham through his legal father Joseph – to establish Him as legal heir to the throne. It begins with Abraham and ends with Jesus, reminding every Jewish listener of God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3. 

In contrast the genealogy recorded in Luke 3 begins with Jesus, traces his lineage through his mother Mary’s line, and goes all the way back to Adam. 

Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old 
when he began his ministry. 
He was the son, so it was thought, 
of Joseph, the son of Heli, 
the son of Matthat, the son of Levi …
…
… the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.  
Luke 3:23-38 

While Matthew traces his royal lineage, Luke traces his physical blood line. Tracing the lineage all the way back to Adam, Luke identifies Jesus as the Son of Man. He is the Savior of all of us – not only the Jews.  

Both the list in Matthew and the list in Luke begin with Jesus. Everyone else on the list is of lesser importance. It’s all about Him.

All those years.

All those generations.

All those people.

But it’s all about Jesus. 

As you and I cross two things off our list (and add three more) this holiday season, I pray we remember: it’s all about Jesus. May we remember that He is most important. And may we begin each day with Him before going to anything else on the list. 

While Christmas may feel like it’s all about the list, let’s make sure our list (like the ones in Matthew and Luke) begin with Jesus. 

 

Do you desire a greater focus on
the birth of the Savior this December?

Join us for Write The Word: The Christmas Story
and read, write, and study along with us this month!