"The Son of David, The Son of Abraham"

The first verse of the New Testament contains so much truth that we could ponder it for a lifetime without viewing more than a first glimpse of the light provided.


"The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1).


The very name of our Lord is full of illumination. "Jesus Christ" means "anointed deliverer," revealing His relationship to God the Father and God the Holy Spirit with who dwelt within Him, and His relationship with man in His mission to "save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).

The mystery of "God... manifest in the flesh" is also revealed in our Lord being the son of David, and the son of Abraham (I Timothy 3:16). His relationship to David refers to His divinity and royalty as the God who is King of kings (Revelation 19:16). His relationship to "faithful Abraham" spotlights the humanity of our Savior, revealing the life of trusting obedience which He Himself lived as a man - "I live by the Father" (Galatians 3:9; John 6:57). The Lord Jesus must be known in both aspects of His nature and existence, being rightly worshipped as God, and confidently approached as man. Failure to know Him in either aspect will lead us to doctrinal deception of the most serious nature. The New Testament therefore opens with the bright lights of Divinity and humanity that shine in the person of Christ.

What does it means that the Lord Jesus is God? What does it mean that He is man? And what does it mean that He is fully God and fully man? A long eternity will not suffice in completely answering these vital questions. However, we can begin the journey in our present life, that is, the Holy Spirit will reveal the firstfruits of Christ's glory to those who diligently seek Him in the Word of God. There is no more important Biblical consideration, even as the very threshold of the New Testament leads us to ponder "the mystery of godliness" which is "God... manifest in the flesh." May we respond by making such emphasis our own, and then let us rejoice as the Lord Jesus is revealed more and more as the son of David, the son of Abraham.



"But unto the Son, He saith, Thy throne, o God, is forever and ever."
(Hebrews 1:8)
"There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
(I Timothy 2:5)