FAMILY RESEMBLANCE
From: Ron Hawks
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth…John 1:14.”
“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus…Acts 4:13.”
Who do you resemble (or take after) in your family? It may be a parent, aunt or uncle, a grandparent, cousin, etc.? Sometimes it’s amazing to see how genes are passed through a family line. Physical appearance and/or traits can move through the generations, sometimes skipping or side-stepping the most logical paths.
I wonder who Jesus looked like in His family line – Mary’s uncle or great grandfather? Whose traits or personality quirks did He exhibit? Did His sense of humor particularly connect with anyone from His family of origin?
Jesus’ genealogy is outlined in the first chapter of Matthew. The line is charted from Abraham, to David, through Joseph, to Jesus. We can see that He was a “Son of David” and a “Lion from the tribe of Judah.” He was born of Israel’s kingly family line.
However, we must remember that Joseph was Jesus’ father by marriage, not by blood. Joseph’s genes were not in Jesus. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of Mary. (Matthew 1:18) Joseph was legally and practically Jesus’ dad through marriage not DNA.
This mystery is at the core of our faith. Jesus was fully human and fully divine – how can that be? Being divine, He was sinless; being human He had to die. As the God man His death – tainted by no sin – was effectual to pay for our sin. We receive complete forgiveness through Jesus’ death on the cross. And, through faith in Him we receive the Spirit of Adoption. We are included in His family – heirs in His Household and Kingdom.
If you know Jesus, you have been included by faith in His family line. How much do you resemble Him? Do your character and abilities somehow echo His life? When people see or experience you, do they ever sense the life of Christ?
Let me encourage you during this Advent season to carve time to wonder about the incarnation. Let your imagination take you into His presence as you consider God becoming a human being and submitting to the limitations and struggles of life. Call to Him to stir up faith within you and spend time simply being “with” God in stillness. This is a great season to spend time in the morning expanding your capacity to connect with your Father. May the joy and peace of Christ rest on your soul as you quiet yourself to receive your Father’s likeness.
With you,
Pastor Tom