"The Road to Emmaus"
(Luke 24:13-27)Study #3 – Jesus in Genesis Part II of II
(Lineage & Symbolism)
More so than any other book of the Old Testament, Jesus ancestry is part of the fabric woven throughout the book of Genesis. Read Luke 3:33-38 (note we are picking up Jesus’ genealogy half way through a list). Although it takes only a few seconds to read, these 6 verses cover hundreds of years of history of Jesus’ line, a line which is traced by Genesis.
1). Matthew’s genealogy of Christ (in Matt 1) goes only back to Abraham, father of the Jewish people. Luke, however, who’s gospel account was geared to the Gentiles pushed back further in Jesus’ ancestry. What message would this send his intended audience about who the "good news" of Christ was for?
2). Note that Jesus’ lineage is traced through Jacob’s son Judah. This is somewhat surprising since the youngest son in Jacob’s family, Joseph, is perhaps one of the most Godly men of the Bible. This is a pattern we will see repeated throughout Jesus’ line of descent. Although it is pure in the sense of fulfilling God’s promises and prophecies, it includes numbers of "impurities". Why do you think this might be?
There are literally dozens of connections that can be drawn between events in Genesis and Jesus’ life. We will focus on some of the main ones.
3). Genesis 1:26-27. Man was made in God’s image. However, through Jesus, God took the "image" of man. Explain how this gives us comfort and hope.
4). Read I Corinthians 15:45-49 & Rom 5:12-17. Who is Jesus compared to? In what ways are they the same? In what ways are they different?
5). Read Genesis 2:24 and Eph 5:23. What similarities are there in how a man becomes a husband to his wife and how Jesus became a husband to the church.
6). E. Castwell penned the following verse: "Abel’s blood for vengeance, pleaded to the skies; but the blood of Jesus, for our pardon cries." Read Heb 12:22-24 and Gen 4:8-10. What similarities do you see between the shed blood of Christ and of Abel?
What difference do you think Paul is referring to in Hebrews when he says, "…and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel"? (emphasis added)
7). During the time of the flood (found in the 7th and 8th chapters of Genesis) the people of God were saved through the ark. In the same way, the people of God today (Christians) are saved through Christ. What thoughts or feelings does the picture of Christ as our ark stir in you?
8). Genesis 22:1-2 provides one of the most vivid images of God’s sacrifice of His only Son for us. Read it and consider for a moment what would happen if God asked you to do the same (if you do not have children, think of those you love the most). How would you respond?
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt God calling you to do something extremely difficult? What were the results?
9). Read Gen 22:9-13 and Heb 11:17-19. Abraham was obedient, and God responded by providing a sacrifice (just as later He would provide the sacrifice of Jesus). What does this teach us about obedience to God even if we don’t understand His motives?
10). A Type of Christ is defined as a historical fact that illustrates a spiritual truth. Discuss how each of the following provide a "type" of Christ.
a). Adam: Both began life sinlessly by a special act of God. (Adam through creation, Christ through virgin birth)
b). Melchizedek (who we looked at last week) was both a king and a priest. (as point of interest, notice what gift Melchizedek brings Abram in Genesis 14:18)
c). Isaac: Gen 17:16-17 & Luke 1:31-34
d). Joseph: i). Gen 37:3 & John 3:35
ii). Gen 37:4 & John 15:24-25
iii). Gen 37:18 & 37:28 ; Mat 26:4 & 26:14-15
iv). Gen 39:11-15 & Luke 23:22-24