Paradox of the Cross #5 - Jesus was made poor that we might be made rich. Just think of everything that Jesus left behind when He left heaven to come to earth. An old song of the Church that I haven't heard sung in years says: "Out of the ivory palaces into a world of woe, only His great eternal love made my Savior go" (Henry Barraclough). The apostle Paul put it in even clearer terms. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich" (2 Cor. 8:9 ESV). How poverty stricken was Jesus? He was homeless - He didn't have a place to lay His head at night. Foxes did and birds did, but He did not (see Luke 9:58). "Home, Street Home" was all He had.

Did you know that you are RICH? Do I hear a word of protest? Well, you are richer than the richest person on earth if you have salvation through Christ. We have "immeasurable riches" in Christ Jesus (see Eph. 2:4-7). "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us..." (Eph. 1:7, 8a ESV). What a paradox! He who had it all gave it all up so that you could have the riches of salvation and the assurance of eternal life!

Hymn: "In garments glorious He will come, to open wide the door; And I shall enter my heavenly home, to dwell forever more." (Henry Barraclough)