Jesus and Prosperity

I really get tired of hearing people talk about how poor Jesus was.

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John 13:28-29 – Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.  For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.

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I cannot tell you how many times in almost seven decades of life I’ve heard people, especially ministers, talk about how poor Jesus was.  As a child, I bought into that tradition.  However, when I began to study the Word of God for myself, especially after receiving the call of the Lord to the five-fold ministry, I learned differently.   There is a huge basis of evidence to show He was NOT poor.  When one studies the truth of the wise men who came with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to worship Him as a child, we see that even the beginning of His life was powerfully and abundantly provisioned by the Lord.

Add to that the fact that we know Jesus was a doer of the Word.  That means He was a tither, and more than that, He was a giver.  This should be especially noted when we study His Own teaching on the laws of reciprocity, as well as the Old and New Testament outside His earthly ministry.  Add to that consideration of the power of God that moved through Jesus when He was called upon in some way at times where great provision was necessary; turning water to wine, feeding the 4,000, feeding the 5,000, and even supernaturally receiving the money needed to pay taxes for Peter and Himself.

And we must not forget to examine the facts around our Text for Today.  We know Judas Iscariot was a thief and had been stealing from the ministry treasury for quite a while.  When one is poor, one has no money to steal.  When Jesus told Judas to do quickly what he was to do, the other disciples thought He had sent Judas out to purchase all the supplies they would need over the days of the Passover Feast, or that He may have sent Judas to give money to the poor.  Poor preachers don’t fund their own ministry.  And poor ministries don’t have money to give to the poor.  There are other instances to which one could refer, other incidents one could examine, but the case is made.  Jesus was not poor.  And one more thing.  Why would Roman soldiers gamble for the garments Jesus wore if He were beggarly poor and dressed thusly?  Consider what I say, meditate upon the Word, and allow Holy Spirit to help you see what a life of supernatural provision looks like. 

Manna for Today – John 13:21-30; Proverbs 19:17; Luke 6:38; Mark 10:17-30; Malachi 3:6-12

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