The Genealogy of Christ (Luke)

So, I took over the college class at our church this week on a permanent basis, and we’re going through the book of Matthew, starting with chapter one, which includes the genealogy of Christ and the record of the virgin birth.  I’ve covered both these topics in these pages in the past: Why a Virgin Birth? And  The Genealogy of Christ (Matthew).  

You’ll recall that in the genealogy post, I showed that if you look at the meanings of the names in the genealogy, they spell out an amazing message about Jesus.  For example, Adam’s name means “man”; his son’s name means “appointed”, and his son’s name means “mortal”, and his son’s name means “sorrow”.  So you have the message: “man appointed mortal sorrow” in the first four names of the genealogy.

Well, for class this week, I took the time to look up the names listed in Luke as well since Luke looks at Mary’s line back to David via his son Nathan rather than Solomon.  For today’s post, I present the meanings of the names in the genealogy from Luke and the message they share about Christ:

Man is appointed mortal sorrow, but the Blessed of God will come down teaching that his death shall bring the despairing rest and comfort.

He will be a renowned healer, possessing a mission that joins division. God’s shepherd will twine the branches, through the exhalation of His spirit. The father of a great multitude laughs; he prevails with God through the praise of the Lord breaching divisions.

Rise up; my people are liberated by a helper that rewards a servant with strength, a gift well beloved, a gift of God. His gift is a reward supplying the resurrection of God from a dove.  The increase of the praise of the Lord that is heard is associated with His gifts.  He that exalts the Lord in the court of my God has the salvation of God. 

The watchman’s garment adorns my king, my light lent of God dispersing confusion by His will.  By grace praises increase in hearing and obeying the gift of the Lord. One who fears light is separated from the comforter, the weighty gift of the Lord.  With the increase of affliction for the king, and those associated with him, the gift ascends increasing salvation.

God is pretty amazing I think!  Below I've included a list of the genealogy with the names and their meanings:

Genealogy from Adam to Jesus W/Meanings

Adam = Man

Seth = Appointed

Enos = Mortal

Cainan = Sorrow

Maleleel = The Blessed of God

Jared = To Come Down

Enoch = Teaching

Methuselah = His Death Shall Bring

Lamech = Despair

Noah = Rest and Comfort

Shem = Renown

Arphaxad = Healer

Cainan = To Possess

Sala = A mission

Heber = joins

Phalec = division

Reu = his shepherd

Serug = twining branch

Nahor = exhale

Terah = dove or spirit

Abram = (changed to Abraham) father of a great multitude

Isaac = Laughter

Jacob = (changed to Israel) one who prevails with God

Judah = the praise of the Lord

Phares = to breach

Esrom = divisions

Aram = Rise up

Aminadab = my people is liberated

Naasson = a helper

Salmon = he that rewards

Boaz = a servant

Obed = in strength

David = well-beloved

Nathan – Gift of God

Mattatha – his gift

Menna – rewarded

Melea – supplying

Eliakim – resurrection of God

Jonam – a dove

Joseph – increase

Judah – praise of the Lord

Simeon – hears and obeys

Levi – associated with him

Matthat – gifts

Jorim – he that exalts the Lord

Eliezer – court of my God

Joshua – salvation of God

Er – watchman

Elmadam – the God of measure or of the garment

Cosam – divining

Addi -  adorned

Melki – my king

Neri – my light

Shealtiel – asked/lent of God

Zerubbabel – dispersion confusion

Rhesa – will

Joanan – grace

Joda – praised

Josech – increase

Semein – hearing/obeying

Mattathias – the gift of the Lord

Maath – fearing

Naggai – light

Esli – he who separates

Nahum – comforter

Amos – weighty

Mattathias – the gift of the Lord

Joseph – increase

Jannai – afflicted

Melki – my king

Levi – associated with him

Matthat – gifts

Heli – ascending

Joseph – increasing

Jesus – Salvation

The Name of Jesus

A few years ago, I had a long conversation with a friend who had fallen into a strange brand of “ministry” that was heavily focused on deliverance or as it’s more commonly known, exorcism.  The conversation had many treks and bunny trails, but through it all, God was speaking very clearly to me.  He would say, “this is what he’ll ask tomorrow, and this is the answer you will give him”, and then the man would ask the exact question, and I would have an answer. 

It was a sad experience because this “ministry” was having people invite demons into themselves and then supposedly exercising them, but everyone involved in it experienced a lot of problems afterward, and this friend and others refused to listen to the warnings God was giving them, not just through me but many others.

One of the questions that kept coming up was how could someone cast out a demon in the name of Jesus and not be a follower of Christ?  Or how can someone heal the sick in Jesus’ name and not be a follower of Christ?  Or do miracles in His name and not be a follower?

And yet Jesus says that this can and will happen: “Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me you who practice lawlessness.'” (Matthew 7:22-23)

At another point, the disciples come to Jesus and say, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us."

To which Jesus replies, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9:38-40)

But Jesus did not say, “Oh yeah, that’s George.  We go way back.  You’ll get to know him more in eternity.”

So how is that people who are not following Christ, and who Jesus says very bluntly are going to hell, can perform miracles, cast out demons, even prophesy? 

The answer is that they can do it because of the power in the name of Jesus Christ.  Jesus’ in Hebrew is Yeshua or Yahweh Saves.  Every time I say His name, I feel two things: intense love but also a little bit of awe.  I’m calling on the name of Almighty God, the God who created the universe with a word. 

The ones who Jesus will turn away in the end use His name to do amazing works, but refuse to love Him by obeying His commands (John 14:15)—what do you think lawlessness is?

Honestly it makes me a little ill not just when I see people invoking Jesus’ name to work miracles despite hating Him in their actions, but also when I hear people so casually cast around His name at dinner or bedtime prayers; it’s almost like they don’t know the One who they’re asking to bless their food at all. 

Honestly, I’ve been guilty of using His name without giving Him the honor He’s due as well, much to my shame.

Father forgive me, and help me to love Your name and Your Son’s name with reverent obedience.