And death on a cross for me! Death on a cross for you! Why is the rich One hanging penniless and possession-less on a cross? Why is He now so poor and humbled? Because God loved the world. Christ is hanging on the cross because He is busy inheriting your debt. He is dying in your place. Can you see Him? He took on your sin, and the righteous wrath of God that you deserved fell on Him instead of you. You deserved to pay that debt. You deserved to die under the wrath of God. But Jesus paid it all.

Why are Christians generous? Is it because we are commanded to be? We surely are. Jesus says that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Paul says to the Romans that if anyone contributes, he should do it with generosity (Rom 12:8). But I think that Christian generosity is more than simple commandment keeping. We keep the commandments, yes, but we are strongly compelled by the example of Christ. The radical generosity of Jesus compels us to radical generosity ourselves. Let me explain.

Christ Is Rich

Consider the riches of Christ. In Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3). There are “unsearchable riches” in Christ (Eph 3:8). Consider how rich Jesus was before His incarnation. He was in glory with the Father before the world began (John 17:5). He was in the beginning with God (John 1:1). Isaiah 6 shows Jesus enthroned in heaven with the angels surrounding Him shouting, “Holy, holy, holy!” He is the eternal Son. He is the One who created all things, who upholds all things, who is the head of all things. He is God the Son. Can you see how rich Jesus was in glory?

Christ Becomes Poor

And this glorious, majestic, worshipped Son of God became a man. Can you fathom it? He took on flesh. It says He emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant (Phil 2:7). He was in the form of God, but did count equality with a God a thing to be grasped (Phil 2:6).

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