Dig Deeper Preview: Why does Jesus have two family trees shared in the Bible?

Today's class is a special preview of the upcoming Tuesday Bible Class series: Dig Deeper.

Why does Jesus have 2 family trees?
1. One in Matthew 1:1-16
2. One in Luke 3:23-38
And they are different. So let's look a little deeper.

The major accepted answer has been that one tells the genealogy of Jesus' mother, the Virgin Mary, and the other the genealogy of His step father, Joseph. There is evidence to support and suggest that that is the case.

1. Matthew 1:1-16 The Legal Genealogy - Jesus is legally accepted as Joseph's adopted son and Joseph is a descendant of king David.
2. Luke 3:23-38 The Physical Genealogy - born of the Virgin Mary.

But as we did deeper what do we see?

There are differences. They are different.

Matthew
Abraham
David
Solomon
Jehoiachin
Jacob
Joseph
Jesus

Luke
Adam
Abraham
David
Nathan
Heli
Mary
Jesus

Is there significance that the lineage changes following David? Yes, dramatic significance:
1. Matthew traces Jesus' legal genealogy from David to his son Solomon. Matthew is telling us that Jesus as the legally adoptive son of Joseph, is a descendant of David and all of the kings of Judah who followed.
2. Luke traces Jesus' physical genealogy from David to his son Nathan. Luke is telling us that Jesus is a descendant of David in the flesh but not through Solomon but through Solomon's brother Nathan.

And this is fascinating because the prophet Jeremiah was given this word: - A word about David's decendants ending with Jehoiachin the last of the kings of Judah to survive. Jeremiah 22:30 "This is what the Lord says:'Record this man [Jehoiachin] as if childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime, for none of his offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of David or rule anymore in Judah.'"
The curse came upon the line of David after the time of Solomon until the time of Jehoikin and then God says no descendant of the kingly line of Jehoichin will ever sit on the throne.

Jesus inherits the kingship that could never have been given to any descendant of Jehoiachin. He receives that through legal means by his adopted father. But he is the descendant of David in the uncursed line who will reign for ever.

This is just what the angel told Mary - the angel Gabriel announced Mary that she would give birth to a son. Luke 1:32-33 " He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end."

Legally Jesus was part of the royal line.
In the flesh Jesus descended and born of the Virgin Mary - He is the One on whom there is no curse. He is the only one who can reign on David's throne and He will reign forever!

That's who Jesus is - the Living God come to earth for us - who fulfills every detail the Hebrew Scriptures.

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Scripture: 1 Samuel 17-51, Ephesians 6:10, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 1 Corinthians 15:57.

Today's story is the most familiar, famous and well-known battle in the Old Testament - David and Goliath - but is there still something we can learn from a story we know so well?

This is a battle between Goliath and the Philistines and the Israelite army. Goliath challenges them every day for 40 days: "send a man to battle me, if I kill him you become our slaves and if your man kills me we will become your slaves."

40 days are significant in the Bible - it is a time of preparation and renewal that at its end brings forth mighty things from God.

On the 41st day of the challenge - David arrives with food for his brothers and others in the army and he learns of Goliath's challenge. David is in his teens - younger than age 20 and he arrives at a critical moment. He is concerned for God's honor. Seeing this challenge as a spiritual battle, he speaks bravely. His brothers ridicule him - yet he says he will take Goliath on.

To King Saul, David shares stories of past bravery and says the Lord will rescue him from the hand of Goliath. David is Spirit-filled, knows his strength is in God alone, is confident and bold and recognized it is God who saves. David trusts the Lord who delivered him in the past to deliver him again.

So Saul tells David to fight Goliath and he outfits David in his armor but David takes it all off as he's never worn anything like that before.

Comparisons:
⁃ David a young teen and untrained in battle vs Goliath a well trained warrior
⁃ David is of small stature vs Goliath who stood at 9 feet 9 inches tall
⁃ David is dressed in a shepherd's simple clothing vs Goliath with a bronze helmet wearing 125 pounds of body armor
⁃ David's weapons were his shepherd's staff, a slingshot and 5 smooth stones vs Goliath carrying a 15 pound spear plus a javelin.

And David goes out to meet Goliath and says, 'you come against us with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the Name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the Armies of Israel and this day the Lord will deliver you into my hands - I will strike you down and cut off your head for the battle is the Lord's and He will give all of you into our hands."

David runs toward Goliath and slings a stone hitting Goliath in the head and Goliath falls down dead.

This is not simply an historic battle record - it is clear insight into what the New Testament describes as spiritual realities.

Spiritual Realities
⁃ Spiritual warfare - life is a battle but we know God wins.
⁃ Spiritual weapons - we put on the armor of God: prayer, the Name of Jesus, God's word, daily filling of the Holy Spirit
⁃ Spiritual victory - is in Christ Jesus.

From this familiar story we are to learn we are to be familiar with the lessons that
⁃ We are in the midst of a battle
⁃ The Lord provides strength to triumph through faith in Jesus Christ.

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Scripture: 1 Samuel 16.

There are many Biblical characters of faith in the Bible, but none with as many Old Testament chapters devoted to them as David.

Abraham - 14 Chapters
Joseph - 14 chapters
Jacob - 11 chapters
Elijah - 10 chapters
David - 66 chapters (and this does NOT include the Psalms written by him!)

Our story takes place around the year 1025 BC. We read in 1 Samuel 13:14 that God is going to replace the Israelite's first king, King Saul. In 1 Samuel 13:14 we read about Elijah telling Saul the following, "But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord's command."

In 1 Samuel 16:1 "The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."

So Samuel sets out for Jesse's home with oil to anoint the next king of Israel. Samuel arrives at Jesse's home and sees Eliab, Jesse's oldest son, and this is the one he thinks is to be anointed but God has other plans. We read in this verse, one of the most important verses about God's heart, 1 Samuel 16:7 "But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

The world looks at a person's job, wealth, good looks, accomplishments, status, possessions, BUT God looks at the heart of a person. Seven of Jesse's sons come to Samuel but he tells each that they have not been chosen. Then Samuel asks Jesse if there are any other sons - Jesse says there's one left in the fields with the sheep. The smallest, least likely of choices, but Samuel has him sent for. David is found, tending sheep and is then brought before Samuel ho acknowledges him as the Lord's choice, and Samuel anoints David to be the next king of Israel. Today's verses tell us that from that time on, the Spirit of the Lord was upon David.

What is it about David's heart that stands out? How did David reflect God's heart?

David's Heart
⁃ Faith-filled heart - had a heart filled with faith in God. David wrote Psalm 23 - this psalm opens with :The Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need." David knew he could depend on God, that God cared for him and so David trusted God. David walked by faith.
⁃ Humble heart - David wrote Psalm 139:23-24, "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." David realized he needed God, relied on the grace of God, wanted God to mold and shape him, wanted God to draw him ever closer to Himself. David not only lived by faith, he walked in humility.
⁃ Honest heart - In Psalm 78:72 we read the following, "And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them." Not that he was sinless, he was not, but he was honest and had integrity and lead his people that way.

We too are called
To walk by faith
To be humble before God
To be honest and to have integrity

Like David we are to have a heart after God's own heart.

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Merry Christmas!

The Christmas story from Luke 2 may be a story that is new to some of us and to others it may be very familiar. We are going to look at the part of the story that is about the shepherds.

Luke 2:8-9 we read, "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified."

Did you know that being a shepherd in Jesus' day was one of the lowliest jobs one could have? They were in the fields all the time, they smelled like sheep and were treated like sheep. But isn't it interesting that they are the first ones to hear the announcement that the Savior has come!

What was their first reaction to the first Christmas? FEAR!

Luke 2:10-11 go on to tells us, "But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

What we see happen is that the shepherds absolute fear is turned to overwhelming JOY! But let's not stop there. Let's look at what the angel says, "I bring you good news (Gospel!) that will cause great joy for all people!" And today when the GOSPEL breaks into a person's life it brings JOY! Because Jesus would go to the cross and rise from the grave, He brings JOY!

Gospel Joy centers around one person. In vs 11 we read that a Savior has been born; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This good news brings the news of a Savior.

The Old Testament is very clear about who the Savior is:
⁃ Isaiah 43:11 "I, even I, am the Lord and apart from me there is no savior."
⁃ Hosea 13:4 "You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me."

The Savior is none other than God Himself! Messiah, Savior, Lord!
God has come down to earth exactly as the Old Testament prophets predicted and what the New Testament declares. The One who created the universe took on human flesh. The Living Word of God dwelt among us.

He saved us by offering Himself as the sacrifice for our rebellion. He did it because we were helpless and bound to sin and destined to judgement. But HE is the Savior, the Lord, and He comes for ALL people. He wants all to be saved! That's the good news! THAT'S THE GOSPEL MESSAGE! And thus, how great our joy!

1 Peter 1:8-9 says, "… you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

The Christmas story is about far more than peace on earth. The Christmas story is about the fact that God has stepped in and He offers to all of us, who repent and believe, forgiveness and life forever. THAT'S the Gospel story, that's the story of Christmas, that's the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ!

May each and everyone of us experience that Gospel Joy this Christmas and forever!

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A difficult and challenging message, this week we address the reality of hell. Hell is not a topic of regular conversation, yet the reality of hell is true. Therefore, it is essential we understand the consequences of our beliefs, our actions, and our behaviors, and that we understand what the future holds. The Bible teaches we have only two destinies: With God (heaven) - or - Apart from Him (hell). Which destiny are we living for?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!