LESSONS FROM TWO BOOKS
A Meditation for the Advent Season
by Max Frazier, Village School Principal

From the November 2007 Philogian

Tracing one’s family history can be one of the most exciting happenings in a person’s life, or it can be one of the most discouraging.  It all depends upon what one finds in his or her background.  When our son and one of our daughters, Barry and Merideth, were in high school, they had a social studies teacher who assigned them the task of researching their family backgrounds.  Of course, with Barry being the oldest, it was his responsibility to do most of the leg work.  It was fascinating to visit with my grandparents and hear about their parents coming to Iowa in the later years of the 19th century after homesteading on the prairies of Nebraska.  Then we visited Marlys’ family legacy in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  A highlight of that visit was her father taking us around to various cemeteries, showing us the gravesites of his family members.  It was thrilling to listen to the stories of his boyhood growing up there.

But I can tell you that most people could think of nothing more boring or uninteresting than to come to our home and for me to drag out that family tree and begin to explain all the greats and great-greats and even great-great-greats hanging upon its branches.  Therefore I promise you that I will not bore you with those stories when you come to visit.

But we have a similar attitude when it comes to the several genealogies written in the Bible.  You know…you begin reading in First Chronicles and you see that long list of names that goes on for several chapters.  I know what most of you do...because I have done it myself.  You quickly find where the listing ends and pick up your reading from there.  We skip the names because…well, because we don’t recognize them, and because we can’t pronounce them.  Why should we care who these people were?  Our conclusion: genealogies are generally boring.  But, what if we are wrong about them?  What if God has some tremendous truths to teach us through a listing of names?  Could it be that a failure to read the genealogies prevents us from knowing God as He would have us know Him?

I find it very fascinating that Matthew, before he begins his account of the birth narrative of Jesus Christ, first recounts the genealogical record of Jesus.  Yes, he begins with a list of names.  This Advent Season, I would like to have us learn some important truths as found in two genealogies recorded within the Bible. 

The Book of Adam
It is interesting that the phrase, “the genealogy of” or “the generation of”, is used only twice within the Bible.  The first time is in Genesis 5, what I am calling the genealogy of Adam; the second time in Matthew 1, the genealogy of Jesus.  Thus, I believe God has marked off these two lists as being especially important for us to understand.

Friends, take a few moments right now and read through Genesis 5…  Okay, what one outstanding feature did you notice within that genealogy?  Some of you will quickly point to Enoch and relate that Enoch was different from the others.  And you will be on the right track.  What is not said of Enoch that is said of the others within the chapter?  Go back and check once again…  Ah, now you have found it.  You have located that phrase that is repeated eight times – “and he died.” 

What was our ancestor Adam best remembered for?  His good looks?  (He was probably very handsome because he was God’s special creation).  His dedication to a job?  (Again, Adam seemed to have been committed to the work God had assigned him).  His financial affluence?  (All the wealth of the world belonged to him).  Of course you know the answer to the above questions is “no.”  Adam is remembered for his disobedience to God and for causing death to come into the world. 

We read in First Corinthians 15:21-22 these words: For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  And listen to these further words from the Apostle Paul in Romans 5:12-14: Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned – for before the law was given, sin was in the world.  But sin is not taken into account when there is no law.  Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.  My friends, the genealogy of Adam is one of death.

In recent weeks we have become sensitive to the thoughts of death.
… A bridge, crowded with rush-hour traffic, suddenly collapses and falls into the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. 
… A jetliner crashes while attempting to land in a driving rainstorm in Thailand. 
… Families, shopping for food and other necessities in a market in Baghdad, are killed when a bomb explodes.
… Two young teenagers on their way to a homecoming bonfire are killed in a car accident
… A young girl, on her way home from a party, is shot and killed when caught in the crossfire of a gang shooting
And the list goes on and on and on.  All around us we see death in its stark reality.

But wait a minute!  As I read this book of Adam, this genealogy of death, I see my name written therein.  Remember these verses:

Surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. (Psalm 51:5)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. (Ephesians 2:1)

You and I are born with Adam’s curses hanging over us.  We are born condemned to die.  There is no getting around the fact that our names are recorded in the Book of Adam – the genealogy of death. 

Is there no hope for us?  Is the author of Hebrews correct when he states: It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment?

The Book of Jesus Christ

Friends, I now invite you to read Matthew 1. What one outstanding feature did you notice as you read?  Having difficulty?  Let me give you a hint: It is what is not said that is important.  And what is not said is this: “and he died.”  Death is not mentioned at all in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.  Yet we know that each person listed in that genealogy did in fact die.  But, unlike the genealogy of Adam, the focus is not upon death but upon life, upon living. 

Let us ask ourselves this question: For what is Christ best remembered?  His education?  (We know that He impressed everyone with His knowledge and wisdom).  His achievement?  (We also know that no one has ever surpassed the miracles and wonders that Jesus accomplished).  No…Jesus is best remembered for His death…which gave life.

Remember those words we earlier read from First Corinthians 15:21-22: …by man came also the resurrection of the dead and …so also in Christ all shall be made alive.  The Apostle Paul explained it this way to the Romans: For if, by the trespass of one man, death reigned through that one man [Note: Paul is talking here about Adam], how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)

Friends, Jesus Christ is the author of life.  And this life can be ours.  We need only accept Jesus as our Savior.  Those were the words which the Apostle Paul proclaimed to the Philippian jailor: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved… (Acts 16:31).  We can be saved from our death sentence.  We can be saved from our lostness.
We can know life…in fact, we can know the abundant life that Jesus Christ came to give to us. 

When I was born the first time my name was enrolled in the Book of the First Adam – the Book of Death.  When I was born again, my name was enrolled in the Book of the Second Adam – the Book of Life.  I trust that your name, too, has been transcribed into the Lamb’s Book of Life. 

Many years ago, Harry Bollback wrote a beautiful Christmas song that captures the essence of why Jesus Christ came.  If you know the tune, join in singing it with me.

            Ring the bells, ring the bells. Let the whole world know
            Christ was born in Bethlehem many years ago.

            Born to die that man might live, came to earth new life to give;
            Born of Mary, born so low, many years ago.

            God the Father gave His Son, Gave His own Beloved One
            To this wicked, sinful earth to bring mankind His love, new birth.

            Ring the bells, ring the bells.  Let the whole world know
            Christ the Savior lives today…As He did so long ago!

[Author’s Note: The series of articles on the End Times will continue with the February issue of the Philogian.]

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