Wallace Wattles 1860-1911

Part Two – The Real Jesus Christ

In the first place then, Jesus could not have been despised because He was a carpenter, or the reputed son of a carpenter. Custom required every Jewish Rabbi or teacher to have a trade. We read in the Talmud of Rabbi Johanan, the blacksmith, and of Rabbi Isaac, the shoemaker, learned and honoured men. Rabbi Jesus, the carpenter, would be spoken of in the same way. St. Paul, a very learned man, was a tent-maker by trade.

At that time and among that people, Jesus could not have been despised for His birth and station.

And he was popularly supposed to be of royal blood, being saluted as the son of David; His lineage was well known. The people who cried, “Hosanna to the son of David” knew that He was an aristocrat of the aristocrats; a prince of the royal house. He was not “lowly “in birth, nor was He supposed to be so. On this point I refer you to Matt.9:27; 15:22; 20:32; 21:19; Mark 21:47.

He Was Educated.

Second, He could not have been despised for His ignorance, for He was a very learned man. Whenever He went into a synagogue He was selected to read the law and teach the congregation, as the one best qualified for the work. Luke says, “There went a fame of Him through all the region round about, and He taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all”. In those times of religious disputation, no unlearned man could have held his own in such fashion. He must have been letter-perfect in the books of the Jewish law, for He was always able to rout His adversaries, by making apt quotations from their own books. Even His enemies addressed Him as Master or Teacher, acknowledging His profound learning. On this point, read Matt 13:54; Mark 12:24-34; Luke 4 14-15; John 7:1`9-23; John 10:34.

Jesus Had Plenty

Third, He was not despised for His poverty, for He had many wealthy and influential friends, and knew no lack of anything. Lazarus and His sisters, whose home was always open to Him, were people of consequence; for we are told that, “Many of the Jews” came to comfort the sisters when Lazarus had died.

Luke says that Johanna, the wife of Chuza, the king’s steward, and other women “ministered to Him of their substance”; that is, they were supporters of His work.

The king’s steward was a high official, and his wife would be a prominent lady.

Joseph of Arimathea, who came to get the body of Jesus, was a well-to-do man. So probably was Nicodemus.

Jesus healed the sick in the families of rulers and high officials and they appear to have responded liberally in supplying His financial needs.

True, He held no property and bought no real estate; but He dressed expensively, lived well and never lacked for money. When He was crucified the soldiers cast lots for His clothing because it was too fine to cut up, as they would have done with garments of an ordinary man; and on the night of His betrayal, when Judas went out, it was supposed by the others that he had gone to give something to the poor. It must have been their custom to give away money, or how could such a supposition have arisen?

In that country and climate, the wants of Jesus and His disciples were few and simple, and they seem to be fully supplied. He wore fine clothes and had plenty to eat and drink, and had money to give away. Read Luke 8:1-3; 5:33; 23:50; John 11:19; 12:22; 19:23

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