(1)Poverty of Jesus
Jesus, whose dominion extended over all the universe, came to this earth and wandered about without His own nation. [Jesus answered ‘My kingdom is not of this world’] (John 18:36).
Our Savior whose home used to be the whole universe, who had the entire heaven as His dwelling place, had nowhere to lay His head when He came to this earth, wandering from place to place. He said,[Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head] (Matt. 8:20).
Being the Owner of all the treasures of the universe, [The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine] (Hag.2:8), He live a life of extreme poverty, without even a penny in His pocket when He came to this earth. He said, [Go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you] (Matt. 17:27). Though He was the Lord of heaven who [gives all men everything] (Acts 17:25), He was scarce of bread and frequently went hungry, sometimes even skipping both breakfast and supper. One day, after skipping His breakfast [in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it (to find some figs to relieve His hunger) and found nothing on it but leaves] (Matt. 21:18, 19). And one evening as He was walking across the grain fields with His disciples, having skipped supper, they plucked heads of grain to relieve their extreme hunger. [Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat] (Matt. 12:1). But Jesus did not even eat the grain. And during His earthly ministry for His children, He had not ridden a horse or a donkey once. Regardless of the distance, with the exception of only one occasion when He, on His last journey, rode on a borrowed ass in order to fulfill the Scriptures. He always traveled on foot and was often [wearied from His journey] (John 4:6). [Jesus therefore being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water,] and He met her (John 4:6,7).
She was a woman cast out from the world, worthless in the sight of men, given in marriage five times and now living with someone else’s husband subject to her adverse fortune. Insignificant and rejected as she was by the world, in order to reclaim this one afflicted and lost sheep of His, our Lord walked about thirty-two kilometers (some twenty miles) and was very thirsty and hungry. But when He found His one lost sheep, He was filled with joy and gladness, forgetting His thirst and hunger. And His disciples brought Him food and said, [Rabbi, eat,” But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” Therefore the disciples said to one another, ‘Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?] But there was no one who had given Him food (John 4:31,32).
Besides these, we know well that He once starved for forty days in the wilderness for the sake of His children who had fallen by the power of appetite. By these facts, we can see that His life was a succession of poverty and hunger. But He never prayed nor spoke a word of care concerning His own poverty, lack of food, clothing or shelter. He never prayed, thought or shed tears for himself, only for others.
[You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich] (2cor. 8:9).
What is more, He was always persecuted and despised. [If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you] (John 15:20).
When He was led with the heavy cross upon His shoulders, to be slain under false accusation, [a great multitude of people followed Him and women also mourned and lamented for Him. But Jesus (loved them exceedingly and) turning to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children’] (Luke 23:27, 28) and went on. Even then, He had gone without food on an empty stomach for many days. He [loved His own who were in the world. He loved them to the end] (John13:1). And after all this, He died in hunger. [Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit!] And He breathed His last (Luke 23:46).
Though He was the richest in the universe, yet for His children’s sake, He became the poorest, so that by His poverty they might become rich (2Cor. 8:9).
By His poverty we became rich.
By His hunger we became satisfied.
By His misery we became happy.
By His chastisement we have found peace.
By His bruises we are healed.
By His wounds we have received health.
By His sorrow we have found joy.
By His tears we can smile.
By His wailing we can sing praises.
By His captivity we have been made free.
By His humiliation we have become noble.
By His exceeding lowliness we have been brought up to God’s throne.
By His insult we are glorified.
By His death we have found eternal life.
Because He went down to the grave, we are privileged to see the glorious morning of resurrection.
Oh, immeasurable is the grace of our Lord Jesus!
Beyond all comparison with the heavens, with the sea, with the firmament!
Not by pen, nor by word, nor by anything can it be described!
[They are higher than the heaven – what can you do? Deeper than Sheol (grave) – what can you know?] (Job 11:8 N.I.V.). What can I do but give Him ceaseless thanks while wiping away the tears pouring forth from my eyes…
(2) Wealth of Jesus
* He was rich in love. [I and My Father are one,] and [God is love] (John 10:30, 1John 4:8). [By this we know love because He laid down His life for us] (John 3:16).
* He was rich in mercy. [I am the good shepherd… I lay down My life for the sheep] (John 10:14, 15). [But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.] [He was moved with compassion for them… so He began to teach them many things] (Matt. 9:36, Mark 6:34).
* He was rich in humility. He [who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.] (Phil. 2:6-8).
* He was rich in faith. [Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these will I do he will do also; and to him who believes] (John 14:2 Mark 9:23).
* He was rich in the Holy Spirit. [God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit … (He) went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil] (Acts 10:38).
* He was rich in power. [God anointed Jesus of Nazareth … with power.] (Jesus (perceived) in Himself that power had gone out of Him] (Acts 10:38, Mark 5:30).
* He was rich in authority. [All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.] [I give you authority … over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you] (Matt. 28:18, Luke 10:19).
* He was rich in living water. [If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me … out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.] [But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will … become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life] (John 7:37, 4:14).
* He was rich in the light of life. [I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk I darkness, but have the light of life] (John 8:12).
* He was rich in the bread (food) of life.[Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you] (John 6:27). [I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger] (John 6:35).
* He was rich in all things in the universe. [All things that the Father has are Mine.] [Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it] (John 16:15, 14:13,14).
In conclusion, our Lord Jesus was the poorest in the world of sin, and richest before God in the universe.
He said, [If any one serves Me, let him follow Me] (John 12:26). A servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.] [Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not I him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world] John 13:16, 1, 1John 2:15,16).
[Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me] (Mark 8:34). [If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife, and children, brothers and sisters yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple] (Luke 14:26,33).
Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come everlasting life.]
[Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the Gospel’s who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time – houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions – and in the age to come, eternal life] (Luke 18:29, 30 Mark 10:29,30 Reference: Mark 12:50, Luke 22:35, Num. 11:23, 2Cor. 9:8,9).
[He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life](John 12:25).
[Most assuredly I say to you,] [a disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.] [If you know these things, happy are you if you do them] (John 13:16, Matt. 10:24,25, John 13:17).
[If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor] (John 12:26).
Praise the Lord! May eternal riches and glory be with the followers of Jesus! Amen. Praise the Lord!
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