Wednesday, December 2
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Matthew 1:1
If you asked a Jewish person, who are two of the most important Old Testament people, many of them would say Abraham and David. Large sections of the Old Testament are devoted to each of these men, who were chosen by God for their roles in leading God’s people. These men are in the right bloodline that qualifies someone to be the Messiah. Each of these men pointed to someone greater.
Jesus is called the son of David nine times in Matthew, according Daniel Doriani. David was a great king, but he didn’t start out as a great man. He wasn’t the first-born son; in fact, he was number eight. Even his father had him out tending the flock when Samuel came looking for a king among his sons. It would be years after David was anointed by Samuel, years of running from Saul, before David finally became king.
The first century Jews were waiting for a king to come in the line of David to save them as a king would save a persecuted and captive people. What they didn’t realize though was, like David, Jesus would come in an unexpected way.
Abraham is the other prominent name listed at the start of this book of beginnings. He was the father of the Jewish people, but he started out as a pagan. Abraham worshipped other gods before God called him. It is important to remember that Jesus is in the line of Abraham. This would be critical to the résumé of a Jewish Messiah. It’s also important to remember that God’s promise to Abraham was that he would bless all the peoples of the earth.
And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing… and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 12:2–3 ESV).
There is more to these two men than meets the eye, just as there is more to Jesus than we first might think. Jesus the King saves his people in a much different way. Jesus the son of father Abraham is the Savior of people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Revelation 5:9). What a great Savior!
