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Three Genealogies – Three Gospels
Normally we think of two of the gospel accounts beginning with genealogies, but three of the four gospel accounts begin with Jesus’ genealogies. Yes, plural. Matthew – Son of Abraham and David. Luke – Son of Adam. Mark – Son of God. Now Mark’s is sneaky, because both Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar were “sons of gods.” Looking at Matthew, his purpose in writing to the Jews is to reinforce Jesus was legally a descendant of David and fully Jewish (at this time Jewish identity came through the mother as it does today). Luke wrote emphasizing Jesus is fully human (although not only human) which explains Jesus’ emphasis on other humans who were outcast within society (much like Jews among Gentiles). Ahh sneaky Mark stresses that Jesus is the true king but unlike any king Rome has ever known because Jesus is a Servant King. Three genealogies, three different purposes.
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