I wonder how is it that some churches can have teachers who dare to teach that Jesus was rich, not poor. I wonder why some sheep can really live up to their names and be that stupid to believe such teachings. No wonder they get fleeced, metaphorically speaking.
This is their reasoning. He had a treasurer who even stole and keep stealing without anyone noticing the difference. They met in his house. He was presented with treasures from wise men when He was born. His clothes He wore were divided by the guards.
He had a treasurer? Please lahhh, it was the tradition in those days for one person to hold the money for the band of companions. It was not Jesus’ money that Judas held but everyone in the travelling party. Its like when we were young, we went out as friends and we would all give to one person who would then pay the expenses for all.
Did Jesus have any money? Look at Luke 8:1-3 “After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” If Jesus was rich, that means he must have been very unprincipled to live off these women when he had money.
He had a house? Big deal! It just means he was not homeless not that he was rich. How big was Jesus' house? How lucrative was being a carpenter? Being a carpenter was more like being a labourer than being a businessman. The rich of Jesus’ time were the businessman merchants and traders. The rest were just labourers.
He was presented with treasures? How much did he get? If Jesus was rich, why would he say the Son of Man had no place to rest his head? Did he wear fine clothes? Really?
The soldiers tossed lots for his clothes? It was a tradition of that time for the executioners to cast lots for the condemned's belongings much like an executioner's fee. The soldiers were not doing it because they had been squabbling over who gets his rich clothes. Does anyone think that whatever robe Jesus had that perhaps it could even have been the purple robe that Herod draped over him and not Jesus' own?
The clearest evidence is that his parents were poor despite the claims that he got treasure from the Magi. Look at Luke 2:22-24. Jesus’ parents offered a sacrifice of “a pair of doves or two young pigeons”. Look at Lev 12:7b-8, “These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering.” Jesus' parents could not even afford a proper sacrifice of a lamb even at his birth. So Jesus’ parents were poor and he was poor.
Please lahhh, Christians, God has given you a sound mind. Don’t embarrass God’s gift to you by not using it.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
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