Son of David

Advent Day 20

Third Friday in Advent

December 16, 2011

Reading: Matthew 1:1–2 (NRSV)

¹ An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. ² Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

Theme: Son of David

Reflection:

What does it mean that Jesus is the son of David, and why did Matthew think it was so important to point this out in the first verse of his Gospel? Later in this same chapter of Matthew, the writer also points out that the child to be named Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ “An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ ” (Matthew 1:20-21)

There are two streams of information in these two quotes. First, Jesus is the “son” of David, and second, that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Obviously, Jesus is not directly David’s son since there are 28 generations between David and Jesus (Matthew 1:17). However, Jesus is in David’s lineage. Being in David’s linage is important as Hebrew prophecies have consistently predicted that God’s promised Messiah would be a descendent of David. By beginning his Gospel with Jesus’ genealogy, Matthew immediately signals to his readers that Jesus, whom he calls the Messiah has the right credentials. Additionally, by listing Jesus’ family, Matthew points out that Jesus was truly human, with a human family.

By letting his readers listen in on the angel’s announcement to Joseph that Mary’s son was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Matthew also signals that this very human baby is also divine. Before Matthew even relates the birth of Jesus and the arrival of the wise men from the east, he has revealed to his readers the paradox of Jesus’ identity. Jesus is both fully human and fully divine.

In this Advent season we have the gift of Matthew’s Gospel which reveals to us, the one for whom we pray. We call out “Come Lord Jesus, Come”, and we pray for God to come among us in a human form that we can recognize and who can identify with our struggles, but who yet has the divine power to save us.

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, Come. Come and be our brother. Come and be “God with us,” leading us, guiding us, and saving us.