Luke 3:23-38: a reflection

23Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, 27the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, 29the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, 31the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33the son of Amminadab, the son of Aram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Luke traces Jesus' ancestry back not only to David and Abraham, but all the way to Adam, the son of God, showing that Jesus is joined to the whole human race, come as Savior for all humanity. Jesus was the son, as was supposed, of Joseph, the account begins, and traces the line back through David, through Abraham, through Noah, all the way to Adam, the son of God. Where other genealogies trace Jesus to Abraham and David, rooting him in Israel, Luke goes further back, to Adam, the first man, the father of the whole human race. In doing so, Luke shows that Jesus is joined not only to Israel, but to all humanity; he took our common human nature, tracing back to Adam, and came as Savior not of one people only, but of the whole human race. This shows that Jesus is joined to all humanity, come as Savior for the whole human race. Jesus is joined to all humanity, traced back to Adam. Christ took our common human nature and came for the whole human race. The Savior is not for one people only, but for all. Christ is joined to you, whoever you are, in your common humanity.

Notice how far back Luke traces Jesus' line. Other accounts trace Jesus' ancestry to Abraham, the father of Israel, and to David, the king, rooting him firmly in the people of Israel and their promises. Luke includes these, but goes further: he traces the line back beyond Abraham, beyond Noah, all the way to Adam, the first man, and calls Adam the son of God. By tracing Jesus back to Adam, Luke connects Jesus not only to Israel, but to the whole human race, of which Adam is the head and father. Jesus took our common human nature, the nature shared by all people descended from Adam. This holds a truth at the heart of the gospel. Jesus is not the Savior of one people only, one nation, one group; by taking the common human nature that traces back to Adam, he is joined to the whole human race, and came as Savior for all humanity. Whatever our people, background, or nation, Christ is joined to us in our common humanity, having taken the nature we all share; and he came as Savior for us, for the whole human race, not for a few. This is a wide and welcoming truth: the Savior is for all, joined to all in the humanity he took, come for the whole race of Adam. We do well to receive Christ as the Savior joined to all humanity, come for the whole human race, and so for us, whoever we are. Receive Christ as the Savior joined to all humanity, come for the whole human race. Christ took the common human nature that traces back to Adam, joining himself to all. The Savior is not for one people only, but for all, and so for you. Whoever you are, Christ is joined to you in your common humanity.

That is worth taking to heart, for Jesus is joined to all humanity, traced back to Adam, and came as Savior for the whole human race, as Luke's genealogy shows. We can think Christ belongs only to one people; but Luke traces him back to Adam, joining him to the whole human race. He came for all. Do not think the Savior is for a few only; receive Christ, joined to all humanity in the nature he took, come as Savior for the whole human race, and so for you. Receive Christ as the Savior joined to all humanity, come for the whole human race and so for you whoever you are, as Luke traces Jesus' ancestry back not only to David and Abraham but all the way to Adam, the son of God, showing that Jesus is joined to the whole human race, tracing the line back through David, Abraham, and Noah all the way to Adam; for where other genealogies trace Jesus to Abraham and David and root him in Israel, Luke goes further back to Adam, the first man and father of the whole human race, in doing so showing that Jesus is joined not only to Israel but to all humanity, having taken our common human nature tracing back to Adam and come as Savior not of one people only but of the whole human race, which holds a truth at the heart of the gospel, that Jesus is not the Savior of one people or nation or group only but by taking the common human nature that traces back to Adam is joined to the whole human race and came as Savior for all humanity, so that whatever our people, background, or nation Christ is joined to us in our common humanity and came as Savior for us and for the whole human race, a wide and welcoming truth that the Savior is for all and joined to all in the humanity he took, so that we do well to receive Christ as the Savior joined to all humanity.

Lord Jesus, Luke traces your ancestry back not only to David and Abraham, but all the way to Adam, the son of God, showing that you are joined to the whole human race, come as Savior for all humanity. You were the son, as was supposed, of Joseph, the account begins, and traces the line back through David, through Abraham, through Noah, all the way to Adam, the son of God. Where other genealogies trace you to Abraham and David, rooting you in Israel, Luke goes further back, to Adam, the first man, the father of the whole human race. In doing so, Luke shows that you are joined not only to Israel, but to all humanity; you took our common human nature, tracing back to Adam, and came as Savior not of one people only, but of the whole human race. Show me how far back Luke traces your line. Other accounts trace your ancestry to Abraham and David, rooting you in Israel. Luke includes these, but goes further: he traces the line back beyond Abraham, beyond Noah, all the way to Adam, the first man, and calls Adam the son of God. By tracing you back to Adam, Luke connects you not only to Israel, but to the whole human race, of which Adam is the head. You took our common human nature, the nature shared by all people. This holds a truth at the heart of the gospel. You are not the Savior of one people only, one nation, one group; by taking the common human nature that traces back to Adam, you are joined to the whole human race, and came as Savior for all humanity. Whatever my people, background, or nation, you are joined to me in my common humanity, having taken the nature we all share; and you came as Savior for me, for the whole human race. This is a wide and welcoming truth: the Savior is for all. Take that to my heart. Keep me from thinking you are the Savior for a few only; help me receive you, Lord, as the Savior joined to all humanity in the nature you took, come for the whole human race, and so for me, whoever I am, joined to me in my common humanity.