human pedigree of the Son of God reads strangely when placed side by side with John 1:1. Matthew shows him as man, John shows him as God. Jesus was fully JESUS THE MAN
“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
Matthew 1:1
This first verse of Matthew’s Gospel contrasts strikingly with the first verse of John’s; this man and fully God.
He is man. While He is not called “Son of Adam by Matthew, he is in Luke. Jesus is of the same stock as we are, the same ancient root, the first man Adam, whom God cre- ated. He is bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh; “God sent his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh (Rom. 8:3). In everything that is truly human, He is one of us. He knew no sin (2 Cor. 5:21); He was “that holy thing” (Lk. 1:35); yet was he all more human because of the absence of sin; for sin is not an original part of our nature. He sympa- thizes; He pities; He loves. As man He “loved his neighbor as himself” and so “fulfilled the royal law of love (Jas.2:8). As a man, He was born, He lived, He grew physically, in wisdom, socially and spiritually (Lk. 2:52). A sinless man living in a sinful world.
He is born a Jew. God’s purpose concerning earth has always unfolded themselves by-election and selection, of men, places, and nations. There are elect nations and countries as well as elect souls. Israel was the elect nation of old, Canaan his elect land, Jerusalem his elect city, and Zion his elect hill. The national election began with individual election, Abraham. From the day he was chosen, God’s purpose centered in a nation, the nation that was to spring from him. The Jew was selected to be the first
of nations, to rise above the civilizedGreek and the mighty Roman. The Jew was to be the race with which God was to be connected. Messiah was to be the son of Abraham, son of the great man of faith. And it was so; the seed of Abraham.
He is a king. He is of David’s royal stock; the God selected family, for whom Israel’s crown was destined forever. God limits that circle to the tribe of Judah; then he choos- es from that tribe David’s family. Kingship in Israel was to be connected with David and his line. Messiah came not only as the son of Judah but as the son of David, heir to Israel’s crown, heir apparent to the throne of the universe.
While this is interesting to Israel, it is also attractive to others. Even the angels watched intensely as God worked out His plan (I Pet. 1:12); the Gentiles are interested, for Ra- hab and Ruth are among the Messiah’s ancestors; the chief of sinners, the worst kind are involved, for in the background of the Messiah are the worst kind of sinners. That is why the glad tidings of the Gospel are to be preached to all humanity (Col. 1:23).
But, further, we learn here something concerning God’s purpose of grace and bless- ing, we need to take heed, for it is a purpose of love. God so loved the world that He sent His ONLY Son!
God’s purpose is to bless by one man. It is a human channel that is the blessing on earth. Salvation comes from a man.
God teaches by a man. The Messiah is the prophet. He is the teacher of all humanity. He tells us to ‘Learn of me” (Matt. 11:29). The one who became like us is our teacher. He has all the treasure of knowledge and wisdom for us (Col. 2:1-3).
God’s purpose of judging by a man. God has committed all judgment to Jesus (Jn. 5:27). It is as a Son of man that He sits on the throne of his glory (Matt, 25:31).
God’s purpose is to link heaven and earth together. It is by the man, Jesus that rec- onciliation takes place between God and man. He is the ladder between heaven and earth. The whole universe revolves around this one man, Jesus Christ.