#DailyDevotion Jesus, The Second Adam, Is Declared God’s Son
January 6th
Read Luke 3:21–38
Luk 3:21-22 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, (22) and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
What is interesting here is at this point where the Father reveals to us Jesus’ divine sonship, Matthew then goes on to give us Jesus’ genealogy all the way back to Adam. Some people’s eyes just glaze over when they see genealogies. I find them fascinating. Of course if you don’t know the history in the Scriptures it’s not so interesting. Take this as a hint to read through all the historical parts of Scripture. You see many of the names are little coat hooks which bring you back to an important part of God’s working in the life of his people. Luke’s genealogy of Jesus probably won’t look familiar until you get to Zerubbabel, then David, Obed, all the way back to Perez and Judah. It is perhaps Luke is using either familial names instead of legal names. We can be quite sure. Also there was no doubt different lines of the same royal family intersecting at times.
But what we might notice is that Luke takes us back to Noah, our common ancestor and then back to Adam. For Jesus is not just for the Jews or the Israelites. Jesus has come for all of Adam’s family. Jesus himself becomes the second Adam. The Scriptures call Adam God’s son, because God created Adam and there was a relationship to God not only as creator but as a Father to a son. Now the one who is God’s Son from all eternity takes on the flesh and blood of God’s son in time. In doing so, Jesus unites all mankind to himself. He does this to atone for the sins of all mankind and so all mankind may be gathered back to the Father as his children. By become the second Adam all who are joined to him through baptism and faith receive his Spirit and are made one with Jesus. We become the Father’s adopted children in Jesus.
Because Jesus subjects himself to the Father’s will, the Father is pleased with Jesus. When we have faith in Jesus and are joined to him in baptism, the Father of lights speaks these words to us as well. We are his children and through our faith in Jesus he is well pleased with us. The first Adam became the originator of all mankind. The second Adam is the originator of all redeemed mankind who call God Father. You want to be a child of God and have the Father be pleased in you? Trust Christ Jesus has made atonement for your sins and grants you sonship through baptism and the Father’s word to Jesus will be His word to you as well.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your Son Jesus Christ into the world to reclaim the human family as your own. Continually grant us faith in Jesus that your words to him shall also be your words to us today and on the day of our redemption. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.