Living in Abundance: Faith, Wisdom, and Love

Consider Jesus at the beginning of his ministry. Historically, we know very little of Jesus’s childhood, adolescents, and early adulthood. Jesus was the son of a carpenter and likely grew up poor as he lived in the peasant village of Galilee. While he lived in proximity to the culturally vibrant towns of Sepphoris and Tiberius; it is unlikely that he would have even been middle class because of the oppressive structure of the Roman empire. In addition, Jesus was likely a “subject” versus a “citizen” of the Roman empire further detracting from his cultural and economic influence.

Modern culture looks at socioeconomic and educational background as a measurement of potential for success. Economic advantages, educational opportunities, and access to resources often determine an individual’s level of success. However, Jesus had none of these advantages. Despite this, Jesus began a ministry that not only affected ancient Israel, but the entire world. Bearing in mind Jesus’s background, how did he develop the ideas, dreams, and concepts of his ministry? We often read the Bible as if Jesus just woke up one day and God laid out a divine plan for him to follow. Yet, if Jesus is a true representative of the human experience on planet earth; then you have to dismiss this notion.