The Beatitudes...series...Jesus' Example

It is time for another installment of our book - The Beatitudes by Taylor G. Bunch.. 

 Jesus' Example 

While Jesus had no sins of His own to repent of or to destroy His peace, He was the great sin bearer; and being made to be sin for us, He constantly recognized His spiritual needs. HE was truly poor in spirit. He said, "I can of Mine own self do nothing." John 5:30. He spent long hours and even nights in prayer for spiritual strength and vitality. This was the secret of the continual outpouring of the blessings of heaven under which He lived and labored. Nothwithstanding the fact that Jesus was "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief," He was a happy man. Heb. 12:2. He could not be otherwise than happy, for 'He knew no sin," and sin alone is the joy-killer. Jesus, though He bore the burden of our sins, had a glad heart. The sunshine of His countenance always radiated calmness, peace and happiness to a greater extent than that of any other man since the fall of the first Adam. His smiling countenance attracted children to Him. 

Jesus might have stated the fist beatitude in the negative: "Unhappy are the proud in spirit." Of all people the poor in spirit are the most happy and the proud-spirited  the most miserable. The proud in spirit are very sensitive to every little slight and wrong, real or imagined. A proud spirit, like proud flesh, is exceedingly sensitive. The least little things causes pain and discomfort. The proud in spirit are touchy, and easily offended. They are miserable day and night because of hurt feelings. They are too selfish to be happy. They only remedy for spiritual pride is the crucifixion of the proud and sinful flesh. Those who are dead to sin do not become offended. Dead people are never sensitive. "Great peace have they which love Thy law; and nothing shall offend them." Ps. 119;165. 

Offense naturally thrives where sin abounds. It was a proud and sensitive angel who committed the first sin, and the more he sinned the more sensitive he became. The whole world is suffering with proud flesh, for sinful flesh is always proud. IT was impossible for Jesus to keep from offending His hearers, because they were so proud spirited and sensitive. At the close of one of His sermons, many of His disciples were so hurt that they "went back, and walked no more with Him." The Pharisees were always offended at His teachings, and even the disciples were often grieved. Truth always offends those in error, and sinners resent having their shortcomings pointed out. Only the poor in spirit can be corrected and blessed. 

IN a later sermon Jesus illustrated the contrast between the poor in spirit and the proud in spirit by the parable of the two worshipers, - the Pharisee and the publican. The prayer of the Pharisee was no prayer at all; it was only a boast of his inborn and acquired righteousness. He did not even make a request. He thanked God that he was everything he should be and had everything he needed. He was grateful that he was different from other men, and especially from the poor publican. The publican was poor in spirit; and, recognizing his spiritual poverty, cried out, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Luke 18:13. He alone was justified, and justification is the road to happiness. "Therefor being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1. 

***********************************************************

Next week "Pharisaism Still Prevalent"