A Fork in the Family TreeLuke 3:21-38

You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.

Luke 3:22

1. Our identity, like his, should be first in God, in who we are as children of God and secondly in our natural families.

Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph…

Luke 3:23

The son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Luke 3:38

So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.1 Corinthians 15:45-49

1. Our identity, like his, should be first in God, in who we are as children of God and secondly in our natural families.

2. God’s plan all along was for all people, not just Jewish people.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace.

Ephesians 2:14-15

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in. Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the naturalbranches, he will not spare you either.

Romans 11:17-24

He [Jesus] was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli.

Luke 3:23

Jacob [was] the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus.

Matthew 1:16

1. Our identity, like his, should be first in God, in who we are as children of God and secondly in our natural families.

2. God’s plan all along was for all people, not just Jewish people.

3. God grafts people in from the outside and so should we.

Lord don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed... When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.”

Luke 7:6-7, 9