Once there was a little city, but not very many men lived in it. Perhaps there were many mothers there, and girls and boys and babies, but without many strong men for an army, the city was weak and in danger.
A great king came to that city and wanted to take it over, so he laid siege to it. That means he set his soldiers all around the city and would not let anyone come in, not even to bring food or water to the people inside. There were not enough men who could fight against the king and his great army. It seemed that the poor people in the little city would die either of thirst or of starvation.
And that was not bad enough. The king built a great fortress around the city. He set his soldiers to dig earth and stones and build great towers of attack against that little city, so that he would soon capture it and have the victory.
Hopeless, wasn’t it? But there was a poor wise man living in that city. He certainly was not rich and famous. He had enough wisdom that he could have escaped, but that was not what he wanted to do. Instead, he used his wisdom to save that little city. I cannot tell you what he did, because the Bible doesn’t tell us, but I can surely tell you that his wisdom was wonderful! The great king with all his soldiers and his fortress was totally defeated! Perhaps he went back to his own country or perhaps he lay dead, but he was conquered.
Was there a parade and fame and rewards for the poor wise man who saved the city? No. The people did not remember him. Perhaps they could tell their children the story of the wonderful deed, but they did not remember the poor wise man who saved them.
Are you like that too? Perhaps you have heard the story of Calvary’s cross where Jesus was crucified, and perhaps you have seen churches and crosses and religious men in fine robes. But do you remember the Lord Jesus who died on that cross for you?
Jesus was not always poor. He owned everything because He made everything. And His home is the wonderful glory of heaven. But He came down to poverty. And when He died, He had nothing-nothing at all but a crown of thorns - not even a grave to be buried in.
Great statues have been built for Him, but that was not His choice. In our story, no one remembered that poor wise man who saved the city, but God has made a lasting remembrance for him - He has written his story in the Bible for us to read.
And God in His Book has asked us to remember the One who died for us, and He has told us how in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. God’s wisdom brings salvation to us through the death of His Son. Let’s remember our Lord Jesus. His way is perfect.
“God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).