Jesus, Son of Adam, Son of God!

Reflecting on Luke 3:23-38

"Jesus... the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God." (Luke 3:38)

To be the son of someone is to be their duplicate, a ‘chip off the old block’.

“When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them ‘humanity’ when they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.” (Genesis 5:1-3)

According to Luke, Jesus is the Son of God like Adam was.
This is not to deny that Jesus is God’s Word made flesh, God with us.
But that is not the primary, or biblical, meaning of title ‘Son of God’.
We were created and designed as God’s precious, much-loved children.
Adam (which means humanity), was God’s son, like Seth was Adam’s son.
This heritage does not just belong to Adam as God’s first creation.
It passes on through the generations, the son of, the son of.
It also applies to the daughters of Eve, the daughter of, the daughter of.
“God created them male and female and blessed them. (Genesis 5:2)

Yesterday’s reflection on God’s words to Jesus are anchored in this creation truth.
We are all precious, much-loved children of God by our created nature.
We do not live like it, and we do not treat each other like it.
Yet God’s desire and delight is to restore us as children.
We do not earn this privilege, we are granted it freely, by grace.
If only we would believe it, and could receive it and live out of it.

To be made in God’s image involves relating, reflecting and representing.
We RELATE to God in a special way, we are loved and love in return.
We REFLECT this love, like a mirror, to those around us; we glow with God’s love.
We REPRESENT God to others; when they meet us they are in effect meeting God.
This works itself out in our identity, our character, and our purpose.
–> Identity: I relate with God as a child of God
–> Character: I reflect God’s love in how I live
–> Purpose: I represent God to everyone around me, and to the world

This is what we see in Jesus.
This is how Jesus lived fully…
He related to God intimately, personally, as a child with their father.
He reflected God’s love, everyone who met Him experienced the glow of God’s love.
He represented God to everyone, when people saw Him, they saw God.
Jesus is fully human, that is, human as we were all meant to be.
Whereas the first Adam rejected this identity, the last Adam (Jesus) reclaims it.
This Adam Jesus rejects Satan’s lies and stays true to God at the tree (cross).
He rejects the forbidden fruit of selfishness, and chooses the fruit of love.
Jesus becomes the Son of God so that we might be restored as children of God.
He reclaims Adam’s position, and restores God’s creation kingdom.
He rules this world in a God-like way, with love, joy, peace, patience, etc.

Because Jesus is the son of Adam, the son of God, we can be too.
Are you living in this identity, to receive God’s affirming love?
Are you pursuing this character, to choose love over self?
Are you acting like God’s representative, showing others what God is like?
By grace alone I can say: I am Norman, son of Jesus, son of Adam, son of God!
I want to live in, and out, this identity, character and purpose.
To be God’s image-bearer on earth, so that all may experience God’s love.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I don't claim to be a very good image-bearer, but I am God's image-bearer, God's son, and I want to live in and out of this precious truth. Thank You for beating Satan and the lie, and reclaiming our position on earth, God's creation kingdom. Help me to relate with, to reflect and to represent the love of God to all creation, and to all people... like You do!