Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“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 Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, January 13, 2025
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
As was thought… I find this funny because the writer of Luke comes right out and says that Jesus wasn’t actually Joseph’s son, but then proceeds to trace Jesus’ genealogy to Adam through Joseph. Matthew does this, too (though his genealogy is markedly different). Why neither writer though to trace Jesus’ lineage through his one human parent is a little beyond me. Both make the claim that Jesus was conceived by the power of God—that is, there was no earthly baby daddy. But somehow his adoptive father, Joesph, was enough to legitimize his connection to King David and all the messianic promises. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to show that he was biologically descended from David through Mary?
Of course this is irrelevant, since I’m not the original audience. But that makes me wonder what that original audience must have thought. Did they hear those genealogies as evidence that Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promise to raise up a righteous branch from Jesse? Was it enough that Joseph was in the line?
Maybe that can be a sign of hope for us. We don’t need to be related by blood to Jesus, or “Father Abraham” or “Mother Sarah” or anyone in particular. We are all adopted into God’s family, fully members with all the attendant privileges. We can have all the fun we want tracing our lineage, finding our far-flung DNA-linked cousins. But the fact remains that we are all-every single human being on earth (and, I would content, all of creation) siblings.
Who is it hardest for me to accept into God’s “family.” Why?
