Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Luke 3:23, “Jesus, when He began His ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli.”

Background

What did Jesus look like? I know you already have an image in your head, that same image that we all have from seeing drawings and paintings that make Him seem to come more from Hollywood than from a manger in the Middle East. But no matter what He looked like, I wonder if He looked like His siblings. And how much did He resemble Mary and Joseph? Of all the infinite ways He could look and sound, what did Jesus Christ look and sound like while He walked on earth? According to our verse today, He must have looked and sounded a lot like Joseph. For when He began His ministry, it was accepted and assumed that He was the son of Joseph. And that makes sense. He had lived and worked with him all His life. Joseph had raised Him, loved Him, called Him his son. Jesus had honored and obeyed Joseph as a son was to do to his father. He had learned his trade. Joseph, Mary and all their kids were a family. For thirty years, Jesus was supposed to be the son of Joseph.

Application

But now He was beginning His ministry. Now He was going to reveal what Peter realized – He was the Christ, the Son of the living God. His ministry was going to show who He really was. And I wonder if ours does the same thing for us? But not just on Sundays. What are you showing about yourself this morning? What are you showing if you’re the one burdened with the care of an aging parent? What are you showing if your co-workers are slack or get away with things they shouldn’t? It’s probably assumed in your circles that you are a Christian, that you are a child of God. But is that just because you dress the part? Or does your ministry and your passion reveal it? It was supposed by many that Jesus was Joseph’s son. It’s ok that they were wrong, for He was much better than they thought. But how do you compare to what you’re supposed to be? Does your heart belong to heaven? Is it making a difference in you that’s affecting those around you? Even when Jesus was barely recognizable, hanging on the cross, the guard realized He was the Son of God, not Joseph. Is your Father that apparent in you?

Charge

As we seek Him today, be who you’re supposed to be, and do what you’re supposed to do. Be a child of God, and do what a child of God would do.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words