Introducing the God-Man

Luke 3:21–38 NIV

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” 23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josek, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Introduction

Meeting Anna

Luke is giving us our first impressions of Jesus

Luke’s gospel at this point is more concerned about the identity of Jesus than the teaching of Jesus

Luke emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of John’s ministry

Contrast between John and Jesus – even though we know John is baptizing Jesus he is absent from the story

He’s not in prison, the conclusion of the last passage is a flash forward.

Climax of his work

Luke emphasizes Jesus as the Son of God

Two of three stories of Jesus as the Son of God (third is next week – temptation)

We See Jesus’s Humanity

Luke 3:21–38 NIV

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. […]

Why does Jesus receive a baptism of repentance?

Matthew 3:14–15 NIV

14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

In Lk. “all the people” emphasizes shared expeerience

He identifies with us so that we might identify with him.

Look like a sinner. (COVID Mask)

We See Jesus’s Divinity

Luke 3:21–22 NIV

[…] And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Threefold prophetic fulfillment

Heaven Opens

Luke 3:21 NIV

[…] And as he was praying, heaven was opened

Prophetic fulfillment 1

Isaiah 64:1 NIV

1 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!

The Spirit Descends

Luke 3:22 NIV

22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. […]

Prophetic fulfillment 2

Isaiah 42:1 NIV

1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.

Empowered not adopted

The Spirit is active in all of Christ’s ministry

Virgin conception

Matthew 1:18 NIV

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

Leading him

Luke 4:1 NIV

1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

His ministry is enabled by the Spirit

Acts 10:38 NIV

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

The resurrection is a work of the Spirit

Romans 8:11 NIV

11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

A Voice Speaks

Luke 3:22 NIV

“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Prophetic fulfillment 3

Psalm 2:7 NIV

7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.

Another affirmation of Jesus’s sonship

Permanent status not granted status

Approval based on identity rather than activity.

His miraculous ministry demonstrates to us his identity, but the Father knows his identity before

We See Jesus’s Incarnation

Luke 3:23–38 NIV

23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josek, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Hints at the virgin birth “so it was thought”

2nd Adam

Less focused on Jesus royal line than his general humanity

Bypasses the bad kings

All of human history is recorded in the lead up to Jesus

Luke will connect Jesus to Adam even more next week when we deal with Jesus’s temptation

Son of God

Two beginnings – Jesus begins the genealogy in literary order, God begins the genealogy in chronological order

Conclusion

This geneology along side the baptism story has two emphases which collide into one – Jesus is man. Jesus is God. Jesus is God-man.

Superheroes aren’t a good illustration (Superman is not a man but appears like one. Captain America is a man but appears not like one)

For us and our salvation

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

1 Timothy 1:15–17 NIV

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.