Good News to the ‘Poor’
When Jesus proclaimed ‘good news to the poor,’ he was not necessarily referring to those in physical poverty. He was referring to those in spiritual poverty and those who are hungering and thirsting for truth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
– Matthew 5:6
All of the questions they had about the true God, such as, How do we find God? How do we serve God? How do we gain His approval? How do we even know He exists? All of the answers are found in the person and ministry of Jesus.
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.””
– John 14:6-7
The Father knows that we cannot fully comprehend His eternal nature. To mankind, the true nature of the Everlasting Universal First Father is unrevealed. Not because God is in hiding; but because if He fully revealed Himself to us, we could not comprehend Him:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
– Isaiah 55:8-9
“For, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
– 1 Corinthians 2:16
Yes, the ‘good news’ is that we can find God by examining the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. We can serve God and gain His approval by imitating the faith of Jesus. No longer does man have to follow rituals and manmade customs. No idols to rub, no feet or rings to kiss. No incense to burn, no chants or incantations. No magic or superstition or props of any kind. Just doing ‘the best and right thing under the circumstances’ according to the plain and open teachings of Jesus:
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
– John 4:23-24
And it does not cost even a penny.
“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”
– Revelation 22:17
Neither do we have to be learned theologians. Everything we need to know for salvation is contained in the plain and open teachings of Jesus. Remember:
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
– Acts 4:13
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”
– 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
“Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?”
– James 2:5
Really, one’s intellect often gets in the way. Those who are ‘full of themselves,’ have no room for Jesus’ message. They are the ones who get caught up in debates about words that end up in nothing useful. (1 Timothy 1:4) There is very little a Priest, Rabbi or Pastor can teach you about salvation that Jesus has not already given you. Even the things we publish on this site are merely restatements of what Jesus taught. Find dignity in your hungry state so that you may be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
To those poor in spirit, Jesus’ teachings are filling and satisfying. He is ‘the bread of life.’ (John 6:48) Such ones can push away from the table of man and from their burdensome and self-serving doctrines. They can turn away from the forced feeding of repetitious ‘reminders’ and ‘kool-aid’ indoctrination. They can clear out their ‘spiritual pantries’ by throwing away the rotten teachings and poisonous theologies that weigh them down and kill the spirit. And they can freely partake of the life and ministry of Jesus by participating in the Remembrance Supper instead of watching longingly from the side lines like ‘little dogs eating the crumbs that fall from the table.’ (Matthew 15:27) Yes, they can join in the Remembrance Supper, not to commemorate his death, but to celebrate and remember his magnificent life. (Luke 22:19)
To the poor in spirit who are floundering and vacillating in doubt and indecision, you can decide that from this time forward, you will only consume the fresh, organic, plain and open teachings of the one Master of all, Christ Jesus. Surely you must know that the ‘bread from heaven’ is sufficient nourishment to sustain a God-oriented life! As you do these things, you will have the loving support of your spiritual brotherhood who are also taking firm hold of the good news. Therefore, we echo our Master and declare this ‘good news to the poor.’ Eat and drink with joy! This is indeed your Jubilee!
