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Hi Alamo-Girl.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Jesus spend a fair amount of time and energy trying to get the existing Jewish hierarchy to recognize that they were wrongly focused on their robes, the best seats in the Temple/Synagogue, etc., (what I would call expected human behavior in any human generated hierarchy) and thusly not doing the Lord's work? (my paraphrasing).

I guess I don't understand why the apparent effort of some, to trace lineage back through humans takes precedence over a relationship with Jesus.

Considering that humans are just as fallible now as they were then, is it possible that perhaps the same human mistake the Jewish leadership was making back then was replicated by some under Jesus's New Testament gospel?

For humans, tracking lineage, historical investigations, etc., can be heady stuff, but it doesn't seem to me that this would be what Jesus would wish us to focus on to save our souls and follow his plan for us.

(Using your post as a jump off point to ask these questions.)

Thank you so very much for your outstanding essay-post!

Indeed.

Christ railed against the Scribes and Pharisees for putting themselves and their doctrines and traditions above God. (Matthew 23)

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, [as] the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. – Mark 7:5-9

The Jews thought their lineage from Abraham was the ticket. They were wrong:

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire: - Matt 3:9-11

The power was not in Abraham's loins. Nor is it in the doctrines and traditions of men - whether Christian or Jew - including mortal designations of successors or other such vain attempts by man to insinuate himself into the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. - John 1:12-13

Vain repetition of prayers are of no effect (Matt 6:7) - nor are forms of Godliness which deny His power (2 Timothy 3:5) - or other such man-made contrivances of self righteousness:

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. - Matt 23:28

Again, I aver that the Spiritual succession is the one that counts - anything less is a broken cistern, made by man, incapable of holding His living water (the Holy Spirit, John 7:38-39):

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. - Jer 2:13

Jesus Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. (I Cor 1:24)

To God be the glory!