Worth the Price

Sunday, June 09, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

John 10:11–15

In January of 2019, a Japanese businessman paid a staggering $3.1 million for a massive bluefin tuna that weighed in at 613 pounds. Kiyoshi Kimura, who owns Sushizanmai chain of sushi restaurants in Japan, made the purchase which broke his own record for the most ever paid for a single fish. Before the auction, Kimura had estimated the fish would go for around $500,000. But the bidding was intense, and he realized that in addition to providing ingredients for many meals, the publicity would be worth a great deal, so Kimura continued to bid until he won the prized fish.

The price we are willing to pay for something is dictated by how much we value it. It is not so much a question of the intrinsic value of the object, but the value it holds for the buyer that determines the ultimate price. Jesus was not taken by surprise by the cost of the cross. He knew it was part of God’s plan before He ever came to earth. Yet knowing full well the cost, Jesus came anyway and laid down His life. If He had not been willing to pay the price, our sin debt would have remained. No one could compel Jesus to die, but He did so willingly because of His amazing love for us.

Today's Growth Principle: 

God’s love for us is most clearly seen in the high price He was willing to pay to provide salvation for us.