23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age,
being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son
of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jan'na-i, the
son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathi'as, the son of Amos, the son
of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Nag'ga-i, 26 the son of Ma'ath, the
son of Mattathi'as, the son of Sem'e-in, the son of Josech, the son of
Joda, 27 the son of Jo-an'an, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerub'babel,
the son of She-al'ti-el, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son
of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elma'dam, the son of Er, 29 the son
of Joshua, the son of Elie'zer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the
son of Levi,
30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son
of Jonam, the son of Eli'akim, 31 the son of Me'le-a, the son of Menna,
the son of Mat'tatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of
Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Bo'az, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,
33 the son of Ammin'adab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of
Hezron,
the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of
Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the
son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Re'u, the son of Peleg,
the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Ca-i'nan, the son of
Arphax'ad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the
son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Maha'lale-el,
the son of Ca-i'nan, 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam,
the son of God.
Meditation: How well do you know your spiritual heritage? Genealogies are very important. They give us our roots and help us to understand our heritage. Matthew's genealogy (see Matthew 1:1-17) traces Jesus' lineage back to Abraham, the father of the chosen people. Luke traces Jesus' lineage all the way back to Adam, father of the human race. Luke stresses the real humanity of Jesus. Jesus came not just to save the chosen people but all humankind as well. Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's promises. He is the hope not only for the people of the Old Covenant but for all nations as well. He is the Savior of the world. In him we receive adaption as sons and daughters of the living God. Do you recognize your spiritual genealogy and do you accept God as your Father and Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
Luke states that Jesus was thirty years old when he began his public ministry. Why did Jesus spend thirty years in obscurity in the village of Nazareth when his purpose for coming to earth was to save us the world from destruction? This is significant for at least a couple of reasons. First, is shows that Jesus was responsible and faithful in the mundane duties of family life. Before he embraced public duties, he showed his fidelity and concern for domestic duties. Tradition has it that Joseph died when Jesus was young. Jesus assumed the responsibility for caring for his mother. Jesus taught his disciples the precept that "he who is faithful in little, will be faithful in much" by his personal example. He we want to be fit to carry on the Lord's mission today, we must learn faithfulness in great matters by first being faithful in little matters of home and workday life.
"Lord Jesus Christ, your are the Savior of the World and the King of
all ages. Be the Lord and ruler of my heart and home. May there
be nothing in my life that is not under your kingship."