A Poor Man Called Jesus

"In this moving exegesis of the gospel of Mark, Mexican theologian and biblical scholar José Cárdenas Pallares explores the disquieting message of Jesus Christ, effectively demonstrating how Jesus' identification with poor and outcast persons--lepers, women, cripples, tax collectors--was seen as subversive by political and religious authorities. The author unravels the liberative dimension of Jesus' words and miracles, and traces the response of Jesus' detractors from mere indignation to spirited agitation for his death. Engagingly written and cogently argued, this study is a valuable tool for students and scholars interested in Jesus' emancipatory proclamation for the poor of both the first and twentieth centuries."--Back cover

The Bible states in 1 Peter 2:21 "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." What was the example Jesus left us to follow? Was it one of poverty and lack, or one of abundance? Many people believe that he was poor financially and materially when he lived upon the earth. And many of those same people believe that he and his disciples were beggars subsisting on the handouts of others. In his book Was Jesus A Poor Man? Clarence, with over 20 years of study, shows us through the Word of God whether this belief is true or false by tackling such topics as Did Jesus have a house? Did he have a job? Did he pay taxes? Did his ministry have a treasury? Did he wear designer clothing? Did he have a car? and so on.

Is Jesus relevant to the sufferings of the helpless, the voiceless, those dying of hunger, those traumatized by violence, people with learning difficulties? In Matthew, we see Jesus to be a man on the frontline, battling against the forces that stop the non-poor from living generously, and the poorest of the poor living abundantly the way God intended. This is Jesus as one who in his very being is an expression of God's wrath against human beings who live their lives as if creation is a battle zone where only the selfish and powerful flourish. Matthew's Jesus is outraged at the lethargy and apathy that permits non-poor people to live according to practices that lead so many to be excluded from the fruits of God's creation. But the Jesus found in this gospel is also one who teaches that God has created a world that is good to see; it is abundant as long as people live according to the dynamic order God has inwardly established in creation, one rooted in generosity, hospitality, love, self-sacrifice, righteousness, justice, Torah, and mercy.

This book will kick up a lot of "religious" dust in all of us. It's what we do when the dust settles and our eyes are opened that will determine where we go from here. It is only when we see Him, that we see our destiny. We must not get offended with the truth. The truth is the only thing that will set us free. The enemy is behind offenses, as he does not want us to reach our destiny. Each one of us has a marvelous, unique destiny marked out by the price Christ paid for it. Hebrews 12:1b puts it simply, "Let us lay aside every weight and sin which does so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." We would all agree that the church has a message for the world, but would we all agree that the world has a message for the church? They, most assuredly, do. Their cries identify the reason Christ came to earth as a man and became the sacrifice for those cries. For every cry, there is a provision in His sacrifice. Has the church in general disclosed the real Christ and His sacrifice that brings wholeness and purpose for all people; regardless of denomination, race and background? The world is crying out to the church, "Show Me This Man Called Jesus"! This book reveals truths to the world and the church that will awaken "hope" in both. Hope awakened in the church will bring her out of law into grace. Hope awakened in the world will bring the world to Christ!