1. Genealogy of Jesus-
Matt. 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38
-Notes: We have
in Scripture two records of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the Messiah. Matthew’s
record indicates 14 generations beginning with Abraham (the father of the
Jewish people) to David, 14 generations from David to the deportation into
Babylon, and 14 generations from the deportation to Messiah. Matthew lists five
women in the genealogy: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary, who was the
mother of Christ Jesus.
-Luke goes in reverse order of Matthew in starting with the
Messiah at the age of 30 at the beginning of His public ministry and working
backward to His father Joseph and so on. Luke goes all the way back to Adam,
the son of God in his list.
-*Application* We will note some discrepancies in the
genealogy of Jesus by these two gospel writers, which will need some clarification.
Matthew is focused on the generations matching up into segments of 14 and lists
those important to the lineage of the Christ Child in his writings. Luke on the
other hand is more thorough in the preciseness of his list (Luke 1:4). Names in
antiquity are sometimes spelled differently from source to source and people
are known by other names, sort of like a first and last name identification
like we are familiar with. Other scholars have said that the deviation of the
list is due to the tracing on the mother’s side (Mary) versus the father’s side
(Joseph) of the lineage. Whatever the case, we can be assured that both are
correct in their research and inspired writing concerning the genealogy of the
Savior.
-Verses to Memorize: Matthew
1:17, Luke 3:23
2. John the Baptist’s
birth to Zechariah Foretold- Luke 1:5-25
-Notes: These
things happened in the days of Herod Antipas, king of Judea. The priest named
Zacharias of the division of Abijah (Abia) with a wife from the daughters of
Aaron (Exodus 29:9) named Elizabeth (Luke 1:5). She was barren (no children)
and both were advanced in years beyond the age of regular child bearing (Luke
1:7).
-Zacharias is chosen by lot to go into the Temple of the
Lord in Jerusalem to burn incense with a multitude of people outside in prayer
at the hour of the incense offering (Luke 1:9-10). As he went in an angel of
the Lord appeared to him to the right of the alter of incense, which caused him
great fear (Luke 1:11-12). He was told not to be afraid and that his wife would
bear him a son named John who would be great in the sight of the Lord drinking
no wine or liquor and filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in the womb of his
mother (Luke 1:13-15). It was foretold that this John would turn the hearts of
the people of Israel back to the Lord their God, and he would go as a
forerunner of the Messiah in the spirit and power of Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6, Luke
1:16-17).
-Zacharias doubted the vision and became mute as a result
(Luke 1:20-22). The angel (messenger) identifies itself as Gabriel, who stands
in the presence of God, and it brings good news (Luke 1:19).
-Zacharias goes back home with Elizabeth and she becomes
pregnant (Luke 1:23-24). She acknowledges the Lord’s favor on her in taking
away her disgrace of being barren (Luke 1:25).
-*Application* We must accept the things and words of the Lord
no matter how strange and unusual they may seem and appear. Doubt does us no
good. Trust is what the Lord is always looking for in us just like He was with
Zacharias. His ways are higher than our ways and His plan greater than anything
we can wish or imagine (Isaiah 55:9). Follow His lead and you will never be
disappointed in the end.
-Verse to Memorize:
Luke 1:15
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