POOR JESUS!
- INTRODUCTION-- There is a proverb of Solomon that applies to our lesson today.
It reads, "There is (one) that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is (one) that
maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth." (Proverbs 13:7).
- This proverb fits the picture of Jesus perfectly. "For ye know the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through
his poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9).
- The Apostles followed this example. 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 "And working together
with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain 2 (for he saith, At
an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee:
behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation): 3 giving no
occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed; 4 but in
everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions,
in necessities, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in
watchings, in fastings; 6 in pureness, in knowledge, in long suffering, in kindness, in
the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned, 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the
armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by glory and dishonor, by evil
report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as
dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always
rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all
things."
- LESSON--
- The poverty of Jesus, while he remained on the earth, is legendary.
- When he was born (in a stable), his parents could not afford the typical
sacrifice of purification for the mother, Mary, required in the Law.
"And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called
JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22
And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were
fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is
written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called
holy to the Lord), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the
law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." (Luke 2:21-24).
- (The Law of Moses required a lamb, but allowed the poor to substitute.)
"And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she
shall bring a lamb a year old for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtle
dove, for a sin-offering, unto the door of the tent of meeting, unto the priest: 7 and
he shall offer it before Jehovah, and make atonement for her; and she shall be
cleansed from the fountain of her blood. This is the law for her that beareth,
whether a male or a female. 8 And if her means suffice not for a lamb, then she
shall take two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons; the one for a burnt-offering,
and the other for a sin-offering: and the priest shall make atonement for her, and
she shall be clean." (Leviticus 12:6-8).
- We must take note that these things happened before the Wise Men
brought their rich gifts to Jesus and "King of the Jews." (See the facts to
be found in Matthew 2:11. "And they came into the house and saw the young
child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening
their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.")
- When a disciple offered to follow Him, Jesus confessed his poverty. "Jesus
saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the
Son of man hath not where to lay his head." (Matthew 8:20).
- When He came to Jerusalem just before his death, Jesus came into the city
riding on the foal of a donkey. "And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and
came unto Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2
saying unto them, Go into the village that is over against you, and straightway ye
shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And
if any one say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and
straightway he will send them. 4 Now this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken through the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Zion,
Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt
the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:9) 6 And the disciples went, and did even as Jesus
appointed them, 7 and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their garments;
and he sat thereon. 8 And the most part of the multitude spread their garments in
the way; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the way. 9 And
the multitudes that went before him, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the
son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the
highest." (Matthew 21:1-9)
- As a King in procession, by custom He should have been riding on a
ceremonial mule. "So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah
the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down, and
caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. 39
And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the Tent, and anointed Solomon.
And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, Long live king Solomon." (1
Kings 1:38-39).
- But the prophet said He was lowly, setting us an example in this, and
other Christlike traits. "Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a
heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;" (Colossians
3:12).
It is no wonder, then, that low economic status does not prevent salvation.
- Jesus' comments on the rich man who refused His command shows that the
rich have a problem, but that it can be overcome. Matthew 19:16-30 "And
behold, one came to him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have
eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why askest thou me concerning that which is
good? One there is who is good: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the
commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? And Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill,
Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false
witness, 19 Honor thy father and mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I observed: what
lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which
thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come,
follow me. 22 But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful;
for he was one that had great possessions.
- 23 And Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich
man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for
a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of
God. 25 And when the disciples heard it, they were astonished exceedingly, saying,
Who then can be saved? 26 And Jesus looking upon them said to them, With men
this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 27 Then answered
Peter and said unto him, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee; what then shall we
have? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed
me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye
also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And every
one that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or
lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life.
30 But many shall be last that are first; and first that are last."
- Paul warns also regarding the pitfalls of riches. "But they that are minded to
be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such
as drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of
all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and
have pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
- The solution for the rich is to be "rich in good works." "Charge them that
are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope
set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to
enjoy; 18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to
distribute, willing to communicate; 19 laying up in store for themselves a good
foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life
indeed." (1 Timothy 6:17-19)
- The treasure vault of heaven is more secure than any on earth. "Lay not
up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and
where thieves break through and steal: 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not
break through nor steal: 21 for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be
also." (Matthew 6:19-21)
- APPLICATION-- The spiritual riches of Christ are compensation enough for any
disciple.
- The riches of Knowledge--- "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the
knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!"
(Romans 11:33)
- The riches of God's grace---
- "...in (Christ) we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our
trepasses, according to the riches of his grace..." (Ephesians 1:7).
- "(God) raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in
Christ Jesus: 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his
grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2:6-7).
- "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach
unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;" (Ephesians 3:8).
- The riches of our inheritance.
"(I) cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that
the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of
wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; 18 having the eyes of your heart
enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the
glory of his inheritance in the saints," (Ephesians 1:16-18).
- "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is
lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church;
25 whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was
given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God, 26 even the mystery which hath been
hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints, 27 to
whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery
among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1:24
27).
- APPEAL--- Which sort of riches are more desirable for us? Some corrupted minds
perceive that godliness is a way of gain. It is gain of a sort, but only if it is joined
with contentment. 1 Timothy 6:6