Luke 3:23-38
23 When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years old, being, as was commonly held, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli,
24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Hesli, the son of Naggai,
26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, 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 Eliakim,
31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Ram, 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 Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Heber, the son of Shelah,
36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, 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 Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Genealogy of Jesus
Public life beginning at the age of thirty
Only Luke records that Jesus began His public ministry at about the age of thirty. Let us consider the significance of the age thirty. According to Numbers 4:47, the age at which Levites began their public service was thirty years old (it says, “from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old”). The people of Israel were given the mission of being priests who stood between God and humanity to intercede. In particular, the tribe of Levi was appointed as the priestly tribe, and from among them the high priest was chosen. Jesus beginning His public ministry at the age of thirty signifies that He publicly began His role as the Priest of priests, the High Priest. The goal of His public ministry was to offer His own life as the payment for sin. Hebrews 9:26 says, “But now once at the consummation of the ages He has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Let us now offer worship to God the Father through Jesus Christ.
The last Adam
The genealogy in Matthew 1 shows that Jesus came as a descendant of Abraham and David through Joseph’s line. On the other hand, the genealogy in Luke 3 teaches that Mary’s lineage also traces back to Abraham and David (Joseph, through marriage, became the son-in-law of Heli, Mary’s father.) However, through this genealogy, Luke seeks to convey something even more. (1) This genealogy traces all the way back to Adam. In other words, Jesus came not only as the Savior of the Israelites, but as the Savior of all humanity. (2) The expression, “Adam, the son of God” (v 38), points to the fact that Jesus Himself is the Son of God. (3) The genealogy begins with Adam and ends with Jesus. This means that Jesus became the last Adam. As it is written in 1 Corinthians 15:45: “So also it is written: ‘The first man, Adam, became a living person.’ The last Adam was a life-giving spirit.” We who became sinners in Adam have been made righteous in the last Adam (Jesus). Today, let us reaffirm our faith in Jesus. Let us pray that we may live today experiencing the life of the Spirit in Christ Jesus.
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, I receive Jesus Christ, who is my High Priest and the last Adam, as my Lord. Please help me to walk in Him today and forevermore. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.