6. Greatness

6. David (and Bathsheba)/Solomon/Nathan! 


That Jesus is the Son of David is commonly claimed in the gospels. People were waiting for the promised King in David's line who would reign forever. Many Jews are still waiting, but ancient Jewish genealogical records were destroyed around 70 A.D. by the Romans, so there's no way of telling whether any claimants to David's kingship are genuine; apart from the fact He's already been. 


You will note that Matthew and Luke significantly diverge in their family trees from King David. Matthew follows the kingly line of Solomon son of David by Uriah's wife- another sordid story, of betrayal and murder. Luke however follows the more obscure Nathan, who was a younger child of David and Bathsheba. 


I love how David and Bathsheba's son Nathan's namesake introduces the fact that the Messiah would come from David. David wanted to build a house for God. But God replied through Nathan that He Himself would build a house for David, a Davidic Kingdom that would never end. 


But which son of David was Jesus descended from? I think the most plausible explanation is that Matthew records Joseph's family tree, Jesus's stepdad, whereas Luke records Mary's family tree (although he doesn't mention women in his account). So Joseph had to go to David's hometown of Bethlehem for the Roman census, fulfilling another Biblical prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. 


'O Lord our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! Thank You for sending Jesus, Son of David, as our eternal King of heaven, for Your everlasting praise, amen' 


Do you want to attempt great things for God? Meditate on the fact He has achieved great things for you! 


Matthew 1:6, Luke 3:31, 2 Samuel 7:1-17 


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