I just noticed, with Christmas in mind, how the Gospel of Matthew introduces us to the Story of Jesus. "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Matthew 1:1, of course.

The Greek word, a noun, for "generation" is "genesis," loosely meaning "beginning," especially in the sense of "birth, nativity."

But look now!

The verse grammatically links Jesus' first coming to a "genesis." And we have a Book in the Bible named "Genesis!" Is that coincidental? Or is it good word science, good etymology?

I believe we are here being taught that Jesus' Birth has nexus with the first Book of Scripture, again Genesis.

Jesus and Genesis?

Yes.

And we are going to study this topic for just a few days, Lord willing. Again, as we enter the Christmas Season.

Today let me say this. In Genesis we see God's first great Creation! Things material! The heavens and the earth and all that in them is!

In Jesus we see God's greatest Creation, a human body in Which the Second Person of the Trinity could come and live! In order to die on the Cross and redeem lost humanity, fallen nature too at His Second Coming!

No wonder the Lord Jesus is the New "Genesis!"

The True "Genesis!"

I'll never look at Matthew 1:1 the same again. "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."

The Bible, what a Book!

More tomorrow, exciting material too!

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 2, THE FIRST ADAM AND THE LAST ADAM:

Christmas and Genesis?

Somehow those words do no blend very well!

Christmas and Virgin Birth certainly do.

And Christmas and Joseph or Gabriel or Bethlehem.

But Matthew's Gospel opens with a statement that he is about to write of the "genesis" of Jesus Christ the Son of David the Son of Abraham. And Luke carries Jesus' lineage all the way back to Adam, Luke 3:38. The Adam first mentioned in Genesis, by the way!

So there exists some kind of relationship between our Lord's First Coming and the wonderful Old Testament Book of beginnings!

Today our Lesson provides one more point to authenticate this truth. Paul, writing about the Resurrection of Jesus, once calls Jesus "the last Adam!" First Corinthians 15:45 says: "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit."

This connects, under direct Holy Spirit Inspiration, the Jesus Story, the Gospel, including the Virgin Birth which made all the other great Events possible ... to the early chapters of Genesis!

First Adam ... Last Adam!

In fact, maybe First Corinthians 15:22 makes the link even more obvious. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

Look everyone, in the first Adam a miracle of creation occurred! In the Last Adam an even greater such Miracle occurred!

In the first Adam God's great "hunger to fellowship with mankind" experiment failed! In the Last Adam it succeeded!

The first Adam died for his own sins. The Last Adam had no sin, yet He died for ours!

The first Adam took a wife, another miracle of God. The Last Adam also took a Wife, is taking a Wife. The New Testament Church, the tenderly named Bride of Jesus Christ!

The first Adam was expelled from his garden home. The Last Adam has regained for us an eternal Home, a Paradise, a Garden indeed!

The first Adam confronted a serpent and lost the battle! The Last Adam confronted that same serpent, the devil, and won every time! At the temptation, at Gethsemane, at the Cross! Even in the future, Armageddon for example!

Oh yes, God's Son Jesus came to earth that first "Christmas" long ago ... to overcome and complete and fulfill all the first Adam miserably failed to do!

And that's today's truth about Jesus and Genesis!

Wow!

                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 3, JESUS IS THE CREATOR:

When Matthew's Gospel opens the story of Jesus, particularly Jesus' Birth, with the Greek word "genesis," he is implying a great Truth about our dear Lord.

Here are his exact words, Matthew 1:1, King James Version: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Where "generation" is the Greek noun "genesis."

It almost sounds as if God created in Genesis chapter one, and is creating again in Matthew chapter 1. The earth, in the Old Testament. A Body for His eternal darling Son, in the New Testament!

But today I want to go further with this idea. I submit to you that the very same Creator is portrayed in both Testaments in this sense: Jesus, being the Second Person of the Godhead, created the worlds ... and created the Plan of Salvation as well!

Yes ... Jesus our Lord is actively presented in Scripture as Creator!

In that light Matthew emphasizes Jesus' arrival on earth, His Incarnation, as another dramatic episode in God's great creation program.

Paul says this of Jesus in Colossians 1:16-17. "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

John, in his Gospel, adds this. "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." John 1:3

Therefore, we can confidently say Jesus created the environment in which we live temporally.

But now we're learning that He also created the Plan of Salvation by which we may live eternally!

Yes, Matthew was right!

He was recording: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."

Genesis all over again!

Only better, much better!

The "curse" of Genesis can become the "blessing" of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sin forgiven, redemption completed, God satisfied!

Praise His Name!

            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4, MIRACULOUS BIRTHS:

The Gospel account of Jesus' earthly Ministry, beginning with His Virgin Birth, of course centers on a miracle! And an angel announces that fact to Mary, then later to Joseph.

A child will be born, supernaturally! Make that a capital "C" on Child, please, Jesus Christ the Son of God.

But in keeping with our current Bible study series, an analogy of Jesus' First Coming to earth as compared to similar truths revealed in the Bible's first Book, Genesis ... we today note a miraculous birth there as well!

One announced in advance by an angel!

An angel told Mary, "Fear not!" And angel told Abraham to "fear not," concerning the coming supernatural birth of Isaac! By the way an angel later told Hagar the same thing, "Fear not," Genesis 21:17. Ishmael was too a son of Abraham, just not the son of promise!

There's more too.

The angel Gabriel speaking to Joseph concerning Mary the Virgin, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

And an angel, the angel of the Lord really, told Abraham the same thing concerning his less-miraculous but nonetheless literally miraculous  son's birth, Isaac by name. "And the Lord said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him." Genesis 18:10

See this?

The Holy Spirit is "linking" Jesus' One-of-a-Kind Birth to the special births in the early parts of the Book of Genesis.

Jesus' coming to earth began God's new "genesis" with mankind.

And His Incarnation is symbolized, pre-figured, by the "genesis" of creation and birth in the early stages of history.

And yes, I do accept the Bible record of these things, just like they are recorded in Scripture.

I'll stick to my theme, "Jesus and Genesis," a few more days. Other facts remain, things which are exciting and illustrative of the genius of the Word of God.

Amen!

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 5, JESUS AND ISHMAEL, BOTH PRE-NAMED:

Do not misunderstand me, please. Nor the intent of today's Lesson. I am a lover of the Jewish people! Pro-Jewish to the core. If it comes to a confrontation between Jews (the descendants of Abraham through Sarah) and Arabs (descendants of Abraham through Hagar) ... I will support the children of Isaac, the children of "promise" as Paul called them in Galatians 4:28.

But, and I clearly herad Dr. Bob Jones Jr. say this years ago, "The Arabs are children of Abraham too, Semitic in blood line!" By the way not all Arabs are Muslims. Neither are all Muslims Arabs. This is not the issue in our discussion anyway.

We are noticing ways the Bible "links" Jesus' Birth, depicting it as a "genesis" according to Matthew 1:1, how it links it to the Old Testament Book of Beginnings, the amazing Book of Genesis itself.

"The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Matthew 1:1, as was just mentioned. "Generation" here is spelled in Greek "genesis," literally!

Here's today's "point." Just as Jesus was named "before" His Birth, with an explanation of that Name's meaning supplied ... so was a little baby named in the early sections of Genesis! I'm of course speaking of Ishmael. (Isaac was too, but his name's meaning is not as clearly exposited.)

Yes, Genesis 16:10-12 records of Hagar, Mother of Ishmael with Abraham as his father: "And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."

Amen!

Ishmael's name is not only pre-announced here, but is beautifully defined too. Did you catch that in the text? In Hebrew "yishmael" means "God will hear." And our verse above? Name him Ishmael because God "has heard" thy affliction!

Wow!

Now to Jesus!

Gabriel the angel to Joseph speaking of Mary and the Baby: "She shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His Name JESUS: for He shall Save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

Named ahead of time!

And that lovely Name means? "Jehovah is Salvation!" I sometimes relax the formality here and say it means, still accurately, "Jesus saves!"

Two babies pre-named!

Two babies whose names are defined in their birth announcements!

One will be a wild man!

The other is God the Son!

One will bring war.

The other Peace!

Jesus and Genesis!

There are indeed many, many similarities!

               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 6, OUR LORD'S "GENESIS" HERITAGE:

Matthew 1:1 reads as follows, introducing the Life of Jesus Christ, His earthly life: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."

Then immediately afterward Matthew lists other names, giving us Jesus' geneology. For example: "Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren." Matthew 1:2

Notice something please. All these names, so far anyway, come from the Book of Genesis! Jesus, God the Son, through Mary the Virgin and Joseph her espoused husband, have "relatives" whose heritage goes back that far!

Jesus is thus, in His humanity, related to David?

Yes.

Related to Abraham?

Yes again.

Maybe even to Isaac?

Yes.

And Jacob and Judah?

Yes and yes.

Now let me make my point today. "Jesus and Genesis," the title to this year's Christmas series of studies, has a strong Biblical basis.

When Matthew promises us he's planning to write about the "genesis" of the Jesus Story, about our Lord's "generations," he does exactly that! "The book of the "generation" (in Greek "genesis" literally) of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."

This is important!

Because of David, Jesus' lineage to Him, our Lord can some day sit on the Throne of Israel!

Because of Abraham, Christ also is undoubtedly a Jew!

And yes, not Matthew this time but Luke, links Jesus all the way back to "Adam!" Read it please. Matthew 3:33-38 says: "Which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor, Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala, Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech, Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God."

Jesus thus related to Adam!

Hallelujah!

He is not only Jewish and not only Royal ... He is human! The God-Man, come to earth to save lost souls!

Again, all these names are from "genesis," Genesis. The Bible's first Old Testament Book.

Jesus and Genesis, what a Saviour God gave to mankind!

               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7, FIRST VERSES, CHRISTMAS AND CREATION:

The first verse in the New Testament gives us "permission!" It authorizes our "linking" the Birth of Jesus to the Book of Genesis! I mean Matthew actually uses the Greek noun "genesis"  in his very first sentence!

He, the former tax collector, says that he's writing: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Matthew 1:1, King James Version, where "generation" is actually spelled "genesis" in the Greek text!

Genesis and Jesus, in one verse!

Look, everybody.

The very first verse in Genesis. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Now the first lines in the Gospel of John, another "biography" about our Lord Jesus. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." See the similarities!

We are being told that Jesus is the Creator!

No wonder Matthew uses the word "genesis" in his opening statement about our Lord.

God's first creation, Jesus being His Agent, was physical, primarily. God's second creation, Jesus still being the Enactor, is spiritual, primarily.

In Genesis we are given an earth, an environment in which to live.

In the Gospels we are given heaven, a holy city which endures eternally!

The Genesis "cost" was six days of labor, God working omnipotently.

The Gospels "cost" was every drop of Blood Jesus possessed! Dying on an old rugged Cross!

In both situations, our Lord is Creator!

This sounds so unusual. Especially in a Bible study that is concerned with Christmas!

The Baby in the manger ... is the Maker of Earth?

Yes!

Listen to Paul here. "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him. And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." Colossians 1:16-17, clearly about Jesus!

Amen!

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 8, THE TRINITY AND CHRISTMAS:

Bible preachers and teachers have noticed this fact for years, thousands of years really. The Book of Genesis presents us with a trio of mighty men! They occupy a major bulk of the book, really.

I speak of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. The very beginning of the Jewish Nation historically.

These three, at least in typology, form a sort of "trinity." That alone is an interesting fact.

Let's go further now. Abraham is a great father! Isaac, a great son! And Jacob is an amazing member of the triad too, an ancient triumvirate.

There's reason to believe that Abraham pictures, symbolically, God the Father. One who has a miraculous son. And Isaac is that son, one who was willing to die sacrificially at his father's will.

And Jacob? A little more faintly here, but that adds to the beauty, he's a "type" of what the Holy Spirit can do in hearts and lives, as we yield ourselves to Him day by day. Or in Jacob's case maybe year by year!

Dozens of supporting facts can be snuggled around each of these men to further substantiate this view of their position in the Bible's first Book.

Why this information today?

Because we've been discussing "Jesus and Genesis!"

Based on Matthew's first verse, introducing Jesus' Birth narrative.

Jesus, Member of the Godhead!

Jesus Son of God!

Jesus, God the Son!

Jesus the God-Man!

Jesus perfect Man, yet totally God!

God the Father prepared Jesus a Body, miraculously via the Virgin Birth. See Hebrews 10:5.

God the Son came to earth and died for our sins, was resurrected too!

God the Holy Spirit is still changing lives, too! From Jacob the wayward son to Jacob the prince with God, the Holy Spirit filled Old Testament saint!

Yes, there is a direct connection between Jesus and Genesis!

Far more than we may ever know.

           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 9, JESUS AND JOSEPH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION:

We've been comparing "Jesus" and "Genesis" in recent days. We certainly have Biblical authority to do so, such being derived from Matthew 1:1. There the New Testament story of Jesus begins by using the exact Greek word "genesis." It's translated "generations" in our English Bible, the King James Version. "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."

Today I'd like to show you what I think to be yet another "similarity" between Genesis, the Old Testament Book ... and Jesus, the God Who became man! Hopefully this will be an encouragement to someone.

The first Book of the Bible ends with these words, speaking of the death of the Patriarch Joseph. "So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt." Genesis 50:26

See particularly ... "In a coffin in Egypt."

And how does the Story of Jesus end? With Him being buried, in a tomb, guarded by Roman soldiers! "In a grave, a sepulchre, in Jerusalem!" Read Matthew 27:57-60 for validation. "When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple. He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed."

But wait just a minute.

Joseph did not stay in that coffin in Egypt!

He had before his death exacted a promise from his children and neighbors that they, when finally leaving Egypt many years later, would take Joseph's "bones" with them! He would not stay perpetually in that strange land!

And was his wish obeyed?

Joshua 24:32 says "Yes!" Here it is. "And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph."

Wow!

Joseph buried. Then taken out of the grave. Then found in the Promised Land, in the Holy Land! With his relatives, loved ones!

Do you see the likeness?

Jesus did not stay in His "tomb" either!

He was not taken out of it by friends, either! He arose from the Grave!

Miraculously!

Literally!

Victoriously!

And He made "Holy Land" appearances too!

Over a dozen of them recorded in Scripture!

Wow!

Another way Joseph and Jesus are alike. One Preacher has counted around ninety-nine other parallels too!

Folks, this "Jesus and Genesis" thing is getting bigger!

Our Lord truly is the Father's new "genesis!" A new Beginning! The Means, the only means, of Eternal Life!

"I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures. And that He was seen of Peter, then of the twelve. After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, He was seen of many others ...." First Corinthians 15:1-7

Praise Him today!

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 10, JESUS AND MELCHIZEDEK:

Ten Lessons into our Christmas Series, and just yesterday I "saw" Genesis 14:18 in the light of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

From the life of Abraham, these words are recorded: "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God."

This man is a mysterious but admirable character. His name means "king of righteousness!" Yet he is too a priest!

Psalm 110:4 takes this Genesis event and directly applies it to the coming Messiah! To, we believe, the Lord Jesus Christ! "The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."

Here's already at least an indirect "link" between Jesus and Genesis! After all the clearly obvious ones we've studied too!

Then Paul, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, goes even further. He directly says Jesus is a "new" Melchizedek! A fuller embodiment! Hebrews 1:1-21, that chapter, is wholly given to this subject, this relationship!

Read with me. "Whither the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." Hebrews 6:20, not even chapter seven yet!

Then follows: "And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." Hebrews 7:15-17

Jesus, our High Priest!

Not like Aaron was.

Better!

Higher!

Eternally so!

Jesus and Genesis?

Oh yes.

The similarities seems almost endless!

                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 11, JESUS AND JOHN'S FIRST VERSE:

The "similarity" between Jesus and the Book of Genesis for today is lovely. In fact, I have two such likenesses on my heart. So I'll share one this morning, and the other tomorrow, Lord willing.

Several times now I've referenced Matthew 1:1 as far as "precedent" is concerned. Showing how the first Gospel there "links" our Lord's Coming to earth, His Virgin Birth, with "genealogy," spelled in Greek, "genesis," literally! "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Hence our series title, "Jesus and Genesis."

But today, late last night really, I saw this. John's introductory verse to the Life and Ministry of Jesus. John 1:1, short but conclusive. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Wow, the very same words with which our English Bibles begin, "In the beginning God ...." Genesis 1:1

This is more than a simple literary "hint," folks!

Jesus and Genesis, a valid Biblical thought!

Furthermore, Genesis starts with the "beginning" and has God there creating the heaven and the earth! But look, so does John! "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." John 1:1-3

This preacher is more convinced that ever! Jesus' coming to earth, His Incarnation, is a new "genesis" in the plan of God! The Creator Lord has now been born of woman in order to "redeem" His people! To die for the lost!

By the way, God in Genesis completed His work of creation and said, "It is good." Likewise Jesus completed His work of redemption and it too, "is good!"

A simple thought!

But well worth pondering all day long!

         --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 12, JESUS AND ADAM AND EVE:

In the Book of Genesis the "first" Adam is created. He is alone and God decides almost immediately that such a condition is not good! Genesis 2:18, quoting God Himself, tells us Adam needed a "help meet." God then, according to Scripture: "Caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man." Genesis 2:21-22

Thus, a Bride for Adam!

Now let's talk about Jesus, one of the many ways He is Biblically "linked" to the Book of Genesis. Paul, in First Corinthians 15:45 literally calls our Lord "the last Adam." Wow, under divine Holy Spirit guidance and inspiration Paul says this, "the last Adam!"

And Jesus, God the Son, came to earth, Divinity in human flesh ... not to be alone! But to take unto Himself a people. To die so that erring sinners might be "joined" to the family of God!

What I am saying is this: God made a Bride for Jesus as well! A Bride we now call the Church! A born-again Body of Believers, collectively the "body" of Christ! He's the Head, we are the rest of the bodily "members."

Adam ... a Bride.

Jesus ... a Bride.

But now note how God did this, for Jesus particularly. Just as the first Adam's body was involved in producing His Bride ... so with the last Adam!

Jesus died on the Cross, His Blood shed and His Body broken! In fact one might even say that out of the bleeding "side" of Jesus came His Bride, His Church, the Redeemed of all the ages!

What beautiful symbolism!

But more, what beautiful parallelism!

Jesus and Genesis?

Oh yes!

Time and time again the Bible's first Book reminds us of our Saviour!

Even including our very salvation!

          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 13, JESUS AND JOSEPH:

There is a personality in Scripture of whom "no sin" is recorded! I mean in the Old Testament! And his name is? Joseph, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham.

I am not saying he never erred from God's perfect Will, that he was indeed spotless. Just that nothing against him seems to be recorded!

There is Another in the Bible, however, Who was indeed sinless! His Name? Jesus Christ, God the Son! In fact Hebrews 4:15 says of our Saviour: "He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

So here is yet another way, although seen more faintly than some we have studied, that Jesus is "linked" to the Book of Genesis.

Now, watch a few other ways Jesus and Joseph are quite similar. Joseph was Rachel's firstborn son. Jesus was Mary's, via the Virgin Birth, a miracle!

Bother were "shepherds!" Genesis 37:2 and John 10:11 offer clear Bible verification of this fact.

Both were extremely "beloved" of their fathers!

Both were prophesied to be leaders! Compare Genesis 37:5-11 and Psalm 2, the entire poem!

Their brothers, Joseph's or Jesus' either, did not receive or believe their respective messages! I mean the other sons of Jacob and the Jewish people as a whole.

Again both men experienced sojourns in Egypt!

God's "Spirit" was within each of these godly men, too!

Knees were ultimately bowed to Joseph, after he was exalted as leader of Egypt! And every knee shall some day bow to Jesus Christ as Lord too!

Joseph had a gentile wife! Jesus does too, the Church of the Living God, the Bride of Christ!

Many more likenesses exist, I'm sure.

But here are enough to prove, once again, Jesus and Genesis have a Biblical kinship!

Our Saviour is also our Creator!

Amen!

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 14, JESUS AND NOAH AND THE ARK:

These Lessons on "Jesus and Genesis" could continue indefinitely, or nearly so. Truly as the Queen of Sheba exclaimed, "the half has never been told!" So today, hopefully having incited your interest, we shall conclude this Christmas series of studies.

The ark of Noah, God's deliverance in those dark days ... is an event that clearly symbolizes our Lord and Saviour.

The ark was a "gift" from God to provide salvation to those who believed. So is Jesus!

God "designed" the ark, caring for every detail of its construction. God the Father also designed the entire plan of salvation, including the Incarnation and Virgin Birth of Jesus!

The ark was made of wood, matter grown from the earth, the ground. This pictures Jesus in His humanity, He being God in flesh! Isaiah 53 called our Lord a "Root" out of dry ground!

The ark faced the storm and those within it were safe! Jesus faced the storm of God's wrath and judgment, and those who are "in" Him certainly are safe, eternally!

God "invited" folks to come into the ark! So are men and women invited to come into Jesus!

The ark had only one door! Jesus is God's only Way to Heaven, the only Door to Eternal Life!

The ark was a place of rest. In fact Noah's name literally means "rest." And Jesus is our "Rest" indeed! He powerfully promised us who come unto Him, Rest Supreme!

And the ark finally settled on Mount Ararat. My Bible software says "Ararat" means "the curse reversed!"

Need I say any more?

Jesus and Genesis!

The linkage is astounding!

Enjoy continuing these thoughts, Genesis has, after all, fifty chapters! Each loaded with such holy typology!

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

TWO WEEKS NOW WE'VE NOTICED "JESUS AND GENESIS," ENOUGH TO PROVE THE VALIDITY OF SUCH A CONCEPT! WHAT AN ETERNAL SAVIOUR WE SERVE!