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Blessed are the poor in spirit

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…for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

John 5:19-21 says that Jesus could do nothing by himself. I somehow learned that verse wrong. I’ve quoted it wrong countless times, saying ‘Jesus only did what he saw the Father doing, only said what he heard the Father saying’.

What Jesus actually says there, and again in John 5:30, is that he COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ON HIS OWN.

Does that strike you as odd? The word used here is ‘Dunamai’:

  1. to be able, have power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom
  2. to be able to do something
  3. to be capable, strong and powerful

Jesus says he’s not capable. Unless the Father does it. ‘Only did’ and ‘could not do’ are totally different to me.

This connects well to Philippians 2:5-11. Jesus did not grasp equality with the Father. It seems to indicate that his choice to humble himself and take the form of a servant wasn’t a matter of attitude or self restraint. It was a real choice to lose control and power - The word really became flesh – this is the tension where Jesus is 100% man and yet 100% God.

Could do nothing. That’s the very definition of poor in spirit. And Jesus became poorer in spirit than me…or any of us.

This also makes sense with respect to the second clause in that beatitude – possessing the kingdom.

Philippians 2:5-8 says that Jesus became poor in spirit – by choice – even unto death. Philippians 2:9-11 completes the idea by declaring that because of his obedience unto death – his voluntary poverty of spirit.

God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

So the poorest in spirit becomes the king. It’s echoed again in Revelation 5:9-11 – He is worthy because with His blood he bought men for God from every tribe, tongue and nation. Blessed is Jesus ( the poor in spirit ), the kingdom belongs to him. And to the extent that I want to share in his kingdom, I need to stop being so capable and self-sufficient. Ouch.

Comments

Unknown said…
Wonderful thoughts my son.
September 8, 2009 at 8:02 AM
Will De Hart said…
Yea for you Darren. Back in the seminary days, we called Jesus' divine nature the Ferrari. Jesus had the Ferrari, but could not use it. He preformed all of His miracles via the power and agency of Holy Spirit (the Porche)according to the will of the Father (the Cadillac). So even though Jesus parked the Ferrari in the garage, He still possessed divinity within His identity, not losing internal essence.

I really like you application. I think Todd Bentley calls it the "Branch Life" He is the sap. The branch does nothing. Life Happens.
September 9, 2009 at 6:57 PM
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