URC Daily Devotion  3 January 2022

Reflection

Just imagine the makers of television’s Who Do You Think You Are trying to put together a programme about Jesus, based on the genealogy Luke provides. It seems full of possibilities. Lots of material to explore – seventy-plus names, some of them famous, though sadly information on female ancestors is lacking.

It wouldn’t be long before other problems arose either. Researchers would point out that this list and Matthew’s don’t tally. What about those names on Luke’s list that nobody else mentions? Where did they come from? Then there’s the lack of written records for the time of Noah and Methuselah, to say nothing of Adam.

When they get to the  end of the list the wheels really come off: Adam, son of God? What are they to do with that? It’s time to give up, and hand over the material to their colleagues at Songs of Praise. In fact, that’s the better way to read this list; primarily as praise.

Jesus, about thirty years of age, ready to start out on his work, is thought to be the son of Joseph. Look back further, however, and you discover he is child of Adam who is child of God.  Jesus is a human child of humankind, who right from the start are created by God to be in God’s image.

Jesus is just like you and me, living life as a fellow family member of the human race; a child of Adam. Luke’s good news, though, is that this child of Adam is setting out on his public work as Son of God. He’ll do that in a way we fellow children of Adam, and God, have never matched. This will have such a positive effect on our family relationship with God that it’s worthy of our songs of praise.

Prayer

O God, thank you for allowing me to be your child. Thank you that you have included me within the human family. Thank you for the work of your Son, Jesus; child of Adam, child of yours. For all of this, I sing your praise. Amen.