Big Idea: Jesus is the Better Adam because Jesus is the Better Son, well beloved by God the Father.
Two Connections between Jesus and Adam.
Jesus is the _______________________ Adam
Luke 3:22 (ESV) — 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Luke 3:38 (ESV) — 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Luke sets this story up as an epic contrast between Jesus the Son of God, and Adam the son of God.
The key issue, however, involves the differences in names between David and Jesus in the two genealogies. Thirty-eight names are different, and most important is the difference in the name of the alleged grandfather of Jesus. According to Matt 1:16 it was Jacob, but according to Luke 3:23 it was Heli.
Some suggest that Matthew gives us the genealogy of Joseph, the legal father of Jesus, while Luke gives that of Mary, the actual line of Jesus. This understands Joseph, the son of Heli as ‘Joseph, the son of Heli by marriage’.
As Eve was the mother of all the living (Gen. 3:20) so Mary would be the mother of the One who would make all things alive.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) — 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
At the heart of the Good News is this reality, God is redeeming humanity through humanity, by entering into humanity, and initiating a new kind of humanity.
Jesus is the ___________________ Son
Luke 3:21–22 (ESV) — 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
The highest priority in God the Father’s mind, is displaying the glory of the Son. Everything else is subservient to that end. The reason Jesus’ glory is ultimate is because he is the Excellent One, in whom the Father is well-pleased.
Colossians 1:16 (ESV) — 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Ephesians 1:11–12 (ESV) — 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
Romans 5:12-21
Here is the great news of the gospel, you are no longer condemned in Adam, you are free in Christ, the old has passed away, and you are a new creation in Christ.
Questions to Consider
What is the connection between Adam and Jesus in this text? Why is it significant?
Is it hard for you to believe that God the Father is well pleased with you because of Christ’s perfect obedience? What are ways you try to earn the Father’s favor? Why is this wrong?
In what ways do you delight in God? How might you further develop your relationship to the Father through the Son?
