vault full of silver and gold

Was Jesus Rich?

Brooklyn Museum - The Marriage at Cana (Les noces de Cana) - James Tissot - overall

On the earth the terminology about someone is rich or poor.

When you view things in light of the existence of the invisible realm, where God dwells, there are other things not apparent to human sight.

Here is an example in the Old Testament.

II Kings 6:15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

 

The question is not really, was Jesus rich?

A better question would be, did Jesus had what he needed when he needed it?

Jesus did not walk around with a 401(K) portfolio and a vault full of silver and gold dragged behind him by donkeys.

  • But when Jesus needed to pay taxes, he sent Peter to fish and a fish came up with gold in its mouth.
  • When Jesus needed to feed 5000 men, besides women and children, he blessed a little boy’s lunch and it multiplied to feed the multitudes.
  • When they ran out of wine at a marriage, Jesus turned water into wine.
  • When Jesus needed to get somewhere in a storm, he walked on water.
  • When people came to him for healing, Jesus healed them.
  • When he needed transportation into Jerusalem, he knew where to send his disciples to find a donkey.
  • When Jesus needed a disciple he saw him under the fig tree before he met him.

Jesus had what he needed to meet the problem at hand without carrying around human vaults.

Jesus repeatedly said that he did things at the direction of the Father.

John 8:28 Jesus therefore said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things.

 

If Jesus’s Father did not direct him to do something, he did not do it.

Luke 23:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

 

So the question is not really was Jesus rich?

A better question would be…did Jesus have what he needed when he needed it?  And the answer to that question, would be…yes.

Jesus walked in obedience and communion with his Father. Jesus had all the provision that he needed.

What Jesus walked in was reminiscent of the Garden of Eden, where every need was supplied until Adam and Eve disobeyed, incurred the Fall, and cut themselves off from God’s provision,

You might say, well, then why did Jesus die?  Why didn’t he call in angels to protect him?

At the point of the trial and crucifixion, Jesus knew that his purpose was to die and shed his blood, for the redemption of mankind.  So even though he could have called in angels, he did not.

Matthew 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

 

The provision for Jesus came as Jesus was always obedient to His Father.

Back to the question…if you always have what you need when you need it, can that be defined as rich?

Sometimes there are multiple definitions for words.  There are commonly used definitions.  There are lesser or forgotten definitions.

Jesus was rich by heaven’s standards.


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