And Then There were Five: Five is a Lonely Number

Jesus performed 37 miracles as recorded in the gospels. Indeed we find numerous people who Jesus, the Son of Man, affected:

John 21:25 "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen (And that's the truth)."

In the few years of Jesus' ministry he affected uncountable lives. People were fed by the thousands, others healed by him, many were forgiven of their sins and everyone he met he loved! No man ever before nor since has made such a difference in the lives of many!

This man never ever unfairly criticized, gossiped, stole, lied nor ever have an impure thought. Yes, he was tempted just as we are, but he never caved! Just think: a man who never did wrong to anyone, but loved all unconditionally. In theory this man should be loved by all, but many were blinded by tradition and jealousy. They were more concerned about regaining the nation than having eternal life!

Then this man who all should love was indicted and convicted by a kangaroo court. Even though those in power knew his innocence, he still was sent to the cross to die!  This quiet man, the laughed upon King of the Jews was scorned, tormented, denigrated, robbed of his clothing, had fools gamble at his expense, prodded, tortured with thorns and sent to die! How many of those whom he loved were with him? And then there were five:

John 19:25 "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."

Except for John, the apostles abandoned Jesus. Four women, mostly his relatives, stood by his side and were not afraid nor ashamed. The others were gone!  Those who were blind, but now see; those who were cured of leprosy, a couple who were raised from the dead, some whose sanity was restored, some who walked again, thousands who were fed when they were hungry and those who rejoiced when served the finest wine!  Then we look for those he anointed and they are not found!  We seek those who called him Master and they are not there. Those who saw 37 miracles abandoned the miracle worker. They were all gone. Five is a lonely number!

However, Jesus defeated death and restored joy to those dismayed. Five is a lonely number, but soon every knee shall bow!  God made this promise to Abraham:

Genesis 12:1 "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

And you thought God's promise to Abraham was all about Israel. Not so! He said "all families of the earth be blessed". He was speaking of Jesus. God's promise was not that Jews would proliferate, but that Christians represented by all nations, shall populate the earth... and they have! Christians are in western nations and Third World Countries. They are growing rapidly in Asia and Africa. Soon, if not already, all peoples of the world will know of Jesus!

Five is a lonely number! For a short time, there were five, then fifty, then five-thousand! Now there are billions who know of Jesus and a vast number who call him Friend!

Genesis 22:16 "And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice."

Abraham had faith! That faith was credited to him as righteousness. His willingness to sacrifice his only son to God was a picture of God's willingness to sacrifice his only son to all!  Because of his faith, Abraham's "seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed"! Why? "Because thou hast obeyed my voice".

Abraham's faith wasn't in The Law! It was faith in Jesus. Somehow in this primitive place Abraham understood that what he was willing to do to please God was what God was willing to do to save mankind!  What's Abraham got to do with God? What does Isaac (his sacrificial son) have to do with Jesus? Everything! That's what the story of Abraham is all about; God's sacrifice of his only son; the world blessed by the seed of Abraham... Jesus!

Then there were five! Now the whole world knows of Jesus. However, the gate is narrow. Just as there were only five at the cross, few will stand by Jesus in Heaven. Five is a lonely number, but even so, millions will live for eternity because they stood by that lonely Cross throughout the ages!  The Tree of Life yet lives and will never be alone again. Angels and saints rejoice at the root of this Tree... Jesus, The Tree of Life!