Joanna, Rhesa, Zorobabel, Salathiel and Neri - Luke 3:27

Luke the physician shared about Jesus' lineage who came through Matthat, Levi, Melchi, Janna, Joseph, Mattathias, Amos, Naum, Esli, Nagge, Maath, Mattathias, Semei, Joseph and Juda, and in chapter three and verse twenty-seven of his book Luke continued to list the names in the lineage of Jesus where we read:

Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel,

which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,

The verse reads, “Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, ...” Luke began with the words, “which was the son of” or “who was the offspring and progeny belonging to” “Joanna” which means “grace or gift of God”, “which was the son of” or “who was the offspring and progeny belonging to” “Rhesa” which means “head” “which was the son of” or “who was the offspring and progeny belonging to” “Zorobabel” which means “born at Babel or Babylon”. Luke three more names within Jesus' earthly lineage - “grace or gift of God, head and born at Babel or Babylon”.

The verse continues, “... which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,” Luke added the words, “which was the son of” which means “who was the offspring and progeny belonging to” “Salathiel” or “I have asked of God”, “which was the son of” which means “who was the offspring and progeny belonging to” “Neri” or “Jehovah is my lamp”. Luke shared two more names within Jesus' earthly lineage - “I have asked of God and Jehovah is my lamp”.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see more to the story of Jesus within the names of His earthly ancestors. We add, “grace or gift of God, head, born at Babel or Babylon, I have asked of God and Jehovah is my lamp”, and each of these names speaks to the plan of God for the salvation of man. God's “grace” is a “gift from God”. Jesus is the “head” of the church, and God redeemed Israel from “Babylon” which is a type of the world, and indeed “Jehovah God” is the “lamp” or “light of the world”. God wants people to be in a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and those who are wise will examine the lineage of Jesus which communicates the “gospel” of God to mankind.

Next time Luke adds more names to the lineage of Jesus, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".