THE DEVELOPMENTAL TREND OF THE TRUTH
Although there are better ways to save man, God was determined for the Lord Jesus Christ to be made a little lower than the angels. In fact, He was born neither in a royal palace nor in a noble family, but to a humble and poor family.
Perhaps, God intended to use the family background of the Lord Jesus Christ to mock men who like to honour the rich but despise the poor. They are wretched for they will stumble from judging others’ outward appearances.
Why was the Lord Jesus Christ not born in a palace where he could have dressed in splend our?
This would have conformed to the thinking of man and increased the numbers of His believers drastically!
Psm 8:5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honour.
Mak 6:2-3 2And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him.
God has chosen the ignorant ones to be the pillars of His church. This burden is not shouldered by the nobles for they esteem fame and prestige. Out of those who have been called to believe in Him, not many are wise according to the flesh, not many are mighty and not many are noble.
1 Co 1:26-28 26For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,
If we follow man’s ways of thinking, the Lord Jesus Christ should have performed a great miracle to gain the admiration of the chief priests and elders while being accused by them. However, He answered nothing, but would rather be despised and hated by them.
Mat 27:12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.
Mat 27:27-31 27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.
Actually, the reaction of the people at that time was not something out of the ordinary. Men have their perceived wisdom and God has His wisdom too. In fact, He will gladly utilise the foolishness of the world as His wisdom (for He has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise). He said, ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways’.
Isa 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.”
1 Co 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
1 Co 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Men think that their plans are perfect but they do not know the thoughts and ways of God. Through wealth and power, they think that they can best proclaim the gospel. However, these are not the ways of God. The Bible records that ‘those who seemed to be something added nothing to me’. Therefore, His great works can only be accomplished ‘not by might nor by power but by His Spirit’.
Gal 2:6 But from those who seemed to be something--whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favouritism to no man--for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.
Zec 4:6lp...'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the Lord of hosts.
Men think that the chances of achieving greatness will increase significantly as long as they rely on their own might and power. However, the grace and power of God are only made perfect in those who are humble and weak.
2 Co 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Ever since Christianity was designated as the national religion by the Pope of Rome, it would appear as if truth had spread far and wide and resulted in the stability of their churches. However, that was a mistaken belief since those with the knowledge of the truth had disappeared for they were buried in graves.
From the developmental trend of the ministries of the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles, we can understand that God’s truth will only be revealed to those who are foolish, weak, humble and despised by the world. It pleases God to call and nurture those who are poor in spirit and it is good in His sight that none of the rulers of this age knew about His wonderful will.
Mat 11:25-26 25At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
1 Co 2:7-8 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
(The Holy Spirit Times – The Gospel of Salvation 1941)