HIS LIFE OF POVERTY

JOSEPH AND MARY WERE POOR

*    Leviticus 12:1-3, 8 - "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman has conceived seed, and born a man child:  then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.  And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised....And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering:  and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean."  [Note:  The situation of the poor was also understood in the cleansing of a leper - Lev. 14:20-22].
*    Luke 2:21-24 - "And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, His name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb.  And when the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord; As it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord; And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the Law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."  [Note:  Jesus was born into poverty; their offering was that of the poor]!

JESUS WAS POOR DURING HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY

*    Matthew 8:20; 17:27; 27:55-56 - "And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head....Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee....And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him:  Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children."  [Note:  See also Mt. 17:27; 22:19; Mk. 15:40-41].

JESUS REQUIRED A "BORROWED TOMB" IN DEATH

*    Matthew 27:57-60 - "When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:  He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.  Then Pilate commanded (His)  body to be delivered.  And when Joseph had taken (His) body, he wrapped (Him) in a clean linen cloth, and laid (Him) in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed."  [Note:  It was, and is, the practice in the Middle East, to bury the dead before sunset the day of his or her death; His family apparently did not have the resources to purchase a tomb].

POOR IN DEATH; RESURRECTED AS KING OF KINGS

*    Revelation 19:11-16 - "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.  And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood:  and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."