Luke Chapter 3

vs 31

Light on day for me? Well, we just got to the verse that mentions that Jesus is in the line of David (not the kingly line, as far as I can tell). Assuming the list of David's offspring is in age order, then Nathan is the older brother of Solomon.

We studied the promise of God to David about a house that would never fall, and a throne that would last forever. It's an interesting promise. Only part of it is really promissary (that is, not relying on the work of David or his offspring), but part of it is reliant on their obedience. That's the bit that obviously didn't last ;)

vs 32

Boaz is here too, whom of course we remember from the book of Ruth. A very boring book I read recently had a quite interesting idea in it regarding part of the meaning of the book of Ruth. It talked about the familial ties between the tribes of Israel, because they were originally twelve brothers, and how both Ruth and Boaz are such strong examples of this kinship ideal because they push it even beyond the norm - Ruth by sticking to her deceased husband's mother, and Boaz by redeeming her even though she wasn't even an Israelite woman, and he didn't actually have to.

vs 33

This verse takes us all the way back to Judah, that brother I was talking about. The promises to the brothers when Jacob dies are fascinating. There is an odd sort of reasoning to them, and the way Judah ended up getting promised a lineage of kings is quite fascinating. Another example of God's using people who aren't really the person for the job. I mean, you'd have expected Joseph's family to be the kingly line, but not so.

vs 34

And now we go all the way back past Abraham. I mean, all Jews cast their lineage back to here, but it's just so interesting that there is a path of such great history so far back. And this is our history too, as spiritual children of Abraham.

vs 35

These guys are particularly boring.

vs 36

Now we go back through to Noah and beyond. Looking at this lineage reminds me of all the time we've spent studying the OT. Noah's a delightful character - another person with which God makes a promissary covenant. Very important too - without it, we might all be dead. It's interesting to see just how many of God's promises lead to Jesus being here.

vs 37

The line of Enoch, of course - the good Enoch, the one who went to be with God, whatever that means. Anyway, it also outlines that along with all the promises of God which culminate in the coming of Jesus, we are also confronted with the list of righteous people whom God used to bring about his promises too. Enoch didn't do much per se, but just being a righteous man God has used him to be a part of this lineage. Not that everyone in the lineage is a saint, but you know what I mean.

vs 38

And now we get back to the whole point - that all this comes from God. Jesus' lineage can be traced all the way back to God. Of course, all of ours can I guess. But for Jesus, that means something special. Who else draws their lineage back to God? Usually we'd stop at David, or Abraham, or Noah, or Adam. Jesus goes all the way.