Ancestors in the Faith

We know our parents and grandparents. If we’re lucky, we may even know, at least by name, our great-grandparents. Occasionally, someone researches their family tree and traces their ancestors back several generations. But can you trace your ancestors back to God?

At that time, Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Salathiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.

Luke 3.23-4.1

Saint Luke was a physician, and as such, very focused on details. When it came to teaching about Christ, once he had described His birth ‘events’, Saint Luke established the pedigree of Christ. Through Joseph, the betrothed of Mary, Christ’s ancestors trace back to God.

Here’s the thing. If we were paying attention in Sunday School, we can all trace our heritage back to God. Human beings didn’t just ‘evolve’ without connection. We are all descended from Adam and Eve and are all therefore children of God. That’s means something as Christians.

It is one thing to be the son of Harry. It is quite another to be the son of God, but that is exactly what we have become in our baptism. We are children of God, “not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1.13)

When Saint Luke traced Christ’s ancestry, it was to show the truth of His divinity. In our case, we are not divine, but because of God’s grace, we share in His ancestry. God’s ancestors are our ancestors. We are “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8.17)

I invite you to take seriously your common ancestry with Christ, not as a token of pride. Consider your common ancestry as a challenge to live up to our ‘family name’ and honor God. He has honored us by making us part of His family. Now it is our turn to honor Him.