Genealogy of Jesus

Today I am reminded of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. We learn that there were 42 generations from Abraham to Jesus's earthly father Joseph and on to Jesus. Jesus was connected to a sinful physical human family, representing all of mankind, as we all sometimes sin. Jesus had to be human in order to die sinless on mankind's behalf, so we can be fully restored to God. He was also fully divine as Mary conceived Jesus through the power of God's Holy Spirit. "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means 'God with us')" (Matthew 1:23).