Luke 3:23- The Genealogy of Jesus

Luke 3:23- The Genealogy of Jesus

When Jesus began his ministry he was about thirty years of age. He was the son, as was thought, 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 Shealtiel, 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, 13the 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.

Jesus is about to begin his ministry. He is a young man in his prime, 30 years of age. Before he begins though, Luke traces his genealogy back through time through many of the great bible characters. All the way from his father, Joseph, through Joshua, David, Boaz, Noah, Jacob, Isaac and Abraham. All the way back to Adam, all the way back to God. No mention of women. I don’t know if this is just tradition or oversight. I think the society of that time probably doesn’t properly value women. This makes the place, the importance of women as given in Jesus life – his mother, his friends, his associations - another break with the past and with religious tradition. It is unfortunate that down through the ages the Church has fallen back into this age-old rut of denying the importance and relevancy of women. That is the glass half empty view of this scripture. The glass half full is the anchoring of Jesus to some of the most well-known figures in the bible and in history. I’m sure that is for our benefit. Jesus knows who he is, where he is from. He doesn’t need anyone to tell him. Perhaps it is a benefit for women not to be called out in this genealogy. Maybe they see themselves and their contribution to posterity in their present actions and their children. They are who they are and what they do before God.