CHRIST AND CLASS SUICIDE
*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*CHRIST AND CLASS SUICIDE.*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Mark 2:16 *And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?*
*Insight and Highlight.*
Jesus bridged the gap between the "privileged, unpriviledged or the underprivileged".
With Christ there is no bond or free.
Galatians 3:28 KJV: *There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.*
*Scripture Commentaries.*
The Pharisees criticized Jesus' conduct for eating with publicans and sinners. In their own views, it was inconsistent with His deity, attributes/class/status as Messiah and as One who came from God.
They were not happy that Jesus identified with commoners.
The Pharisees called Jesus *"....a glutton and wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors...."*, Matt 11:19a,b.
Jesus was vindicated by identifying with the classes of "sinners and publicans" as categorized by the Pharisees, Matt 11:19c
Jesus, by offering salvation to all destroyed class differences.
Class structures exist in earthly structures. They are good for administrative, social, economic and national planning. The importance of class structure in this sphere cannot be ignored.
However in God's Kingdom, salvation is a leveler. All social classes become one. All people saved become one in Christ through redeemption by the same blood of Christ.
Salvation through Jesus has brought us together. Though we may be disconnected by social class, we are connected by Christ's blood, by drinking the same cup and eating the same flesh, 1 Cor 11:24-26, John 6:55-58
By this, the blood put an end to class differences and by identifying with one another, believers put an end to class differences, 1 Cor 11:33-34.
The decision of the believer to class suicide is imperative if unity is going to have its place in the Kingdom, Ps 133:1, Jam 2:1-7
Jesus Himself "class suicide".
By class suicide, a person sacrifices his own privileged position and power in order to fully identify with the oppressed.
It is a decision of no return. He does not go back to revoke this decision.
This was exactly what Jesus did.
By "class suicide”, Jesus did two things:
First. He sacrificed His own privileged position and power in order to identify with the oppressed.
He left Heaven to come to the earth
He was God who became man in the flesh and had to bear under the burdens of the flesh, John 1:14.
He *"....made Himself of no reputation,* *taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men*.
*And being found in appearance as a man,* *He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross”* (Philippians 2:5-8).
Christ "emptied" Himself from His place in Heaven by making Himself of no reputation.
Second, He died in order to save the lost irrespective of class, status, race. He fully identified with them, Mark 2:16
In what way have you made yourself of no reputation in order to identify with the unpriviledged?
Class suicide today!
*Remorse corner.*
The greatness of Jesus is found in what He left in Heaven and what He became on earth.
*Call to Word action.*
1 Cor 9:20 *And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
When we "empty" ourselves, we create room for God to fill us.
*Prayer.*
Fill my cup Lord, in Jesus name.
Good morning all and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.