Where we come from can say a lot about who we are. My mom is big into the study of her genealogy. It’s interesting to hear her findings. We are descendants of Pocahontas’ sister. We have family related to her late father whom she never met as he died in the war. We are a mixture of many European cultures, but I am primarily from the Slovak side of Czechoslovakia. My kids are also related to Davy Crockett on my husband’s side. All of these give me glimpses into who I am because I have information about who came before me.

This genealogy of Jesus connects Jesus to many of God’s chosen including King David (an important figure in the history and future of Israel), Ruth (the Moabite wife of Boaz), Abraham (with whom God made the covenant that included all of Israel), and Adam (presumably the first human on earth). This interconnectedness helps us to see that the people whom Jesus came to save (us and all of God’s children) are also connected by the very nature of being human. While Jesus could trace his roots all the way back, we too, can understand ourselves to be connected to all human beings because we have all been created by a parent, God.

Text:

Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph son of Heli, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph, son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda, son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri, son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er, son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim, son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David, son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Sala, son of Nahshon, son of Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor, son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah, son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech, son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.