Ten Facts about the genealogy of Jesus Christ that will surprise you.
So many people know Jesus earthly parents as Mary and Joseph. We know the story of the birth of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible. An angel appeared to Mary and the birth of Jesus was prophesied. Joseph later accepted the plan of God after an angel appeared to him in a dream. Joseph was not the father of the baby in Mary’s womb and was worried about his bride, until God convinced him and set things in order.
Jesus’ genealogy is written in the gospel of Matthew (Matthew 1) and Luke (Luke 3:23 – 28). Luke traced the genealogy all the way back to Adam. In the gospel of Matthew Jesus genealogy is traced back to Abraham.
Here are some unique notable and interesting facts about Christ genealogy you may never have paid attention to.
Jesus Christ is the son of God and son of Man.
Jesus referred to himself as the son of man in several passages in the gospel.
Matthew 12:8 – For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
Jesus is also the son of God.
John 10:30 – I and My Father are one.
Which means He was man and God. The fatherhood of Christ is both of man and of God.
Luke 3:38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Jesus obtained His humanity by being born of a woman and His divinity by the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
Jesus bloodline is more than one race, culture and nationality.
His genealogy includes Ruth the Moabite woman who married Boaz and Rahab, a Canaanite woman.
In a world where race and culture cause a lot of division, anger and war, the lineage of Jesus reminds us of God’s purpose and interest in unity in the body of Christ. Race, culture, and differences fade away in the light of God’s purpose and story of redemption. Jesus came and identified with people of every race and culture.
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Jesus came to save the whole of humanity.
Jesus was from the tribe of Judah.
The Levites owned the office of the priesthood, but Jesus was not a Levite. He was from the tribe of Judah. Judah means praise.
Genesis 29:35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore, she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
Judah was the fourth son of Jacob from Leah, Jacob’s first wife. Jacob wanted to marry Rachel, but he had to marry Leah first. Leah named her fourth son Judah after she had tried so much to gain love and affection from her husband. Then she seemed to shift her focus to God after giving birth to Judah. She praised God.
Jesus was from the lineage of kings and royalty.
Jesus’ lineage traced back to king David. We are made kings and priests after the lineage of Christ.
1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
The genealogy of Christ was made of imperfect people who trusted God for redemption.
David sinned and slept with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba. David prayed that the son Bathsheba had for him from that unholy union live but God did not allow it. Then later Bathsheba had another son, Solomon. Solomon became king after David.
David had other sons from other women, but God chose Solomon to continue His story of redemption.
There was hope and redemption in the story.
Boaz was David’s great grandfather. You remember Ruth, Naomi’s daughter-in-law? Naomi had travelled from their own land to the land of the Moabites. She lost her husband and two sons. The wives of her sons were Moabites. She decided to go back to her homeland empty handed but Ruth chose to come with her. Ruth eventually married Boaz and gave birth to Obed. Naomi whose story seemed hopeless held Obed in her hands and praised God. Obed was father to Jesse, David’s father.
None of the events of Jesus birth was an accident.
The events leading to the birth of Jesus Christ seemed well planned out by God even though men and women at the time did not have the full picture to understand what was happening.
Matthew 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.
There are many plans in a man’s heart but only God’s purpose will stand.
Judah who is part of the lineage of Christ had an interesting story in Genesis 38. Judah married Shua, a Canaanite woman and they had 3 sons. The first son, Er married a woman named Tamar. The first son died, and the second son, Onan married her to continue the lineage of Er the first son. Onan died because he was deceitful and did not want to fulfill the obligations.
Judah then refused to allow the 3rd son to marry Tamar, so he doesn’t loose him. Tamar had to pretend to be a harlot so she could have a son through his father-in-law, Judah. She gave birth to a set of twins Perez and Zerah. God chose to fulfill His promise of a Savior through Perez. Even Judah and all his schemes could not stop the purpose of God of bringing a Savior to humanity.
Jesus was a priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Psalm 110:4 The Lord has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High
Melchizedek was a king and a priest. He was referred to as king of Salem which means peace. No wonder Christ is referred to as the prince of peace.
The birth of Jesus Christ was foretold several places in the Old Testament.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Isaiah 9 : 6-7 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Whatever the Lord has purposed to do no one can stop except to align with the purpose and receive the blessing. The story of redemption was established and brought to light with the birth of Jesus Christ.
The story continues with us. It is a great story, and you are in that story. You are one of several people Jesus came for. I hope you have accepted His invitation.
