Worth More than the Price

Daily Gratitude Year 6- Day 87: Today, I am grateful He believed we were worth more than the price.

We are in the middle of Holy week. It is the week that is the foundation of our faith. If it didn't happen... then then what's the point? But, it did... changing everything.

There was political tensions in the days of Jesus, just as there are now. Some rooted in faith differences, some in plays for power and wealth and some were simply the trials of a modern culture. Yes, they believed they lived in a modern culture, just as we do today. For them, it was. What we see as ancient history was the "latest and greatest" of 30AD.

Jesus, like us, lived in "modern times". Whatever the people believed to be truth, was their truth. See, not so different from today. Just because someone sells something as truth does not make it real. The discussions where men and women gathered at the core, were not that different from the ones we have today, only minus anything that requires electricity. I'm pretty sure they talked about politics, their trades or businesses, the value of a shekel and asked each other what they believed would happen in the next few years.

Jesus was so much bigger than anything the people of the day ever imagined, yet his "packaging" was so unexpected. They missed the meaning, the message and the method. Even his closest family, friends and followers could not fathom the path to the cross until they were in the throes of it. What drove him to submit to the will of the Father? Love.

"He knew the price of those sins was death. He knew the source of those sins was you and since he couldn't bear the thought of eternity without you, He chose the nails." -Max Lucado

Could there be any other explanation? He had the power to command the angels. He knew it. Satan knew it. (See Matthew 4:5) The Father knew it. But the ones he loved so much would perish if he didn't do something. Beyond what he knew of heaven, we were his people and his purpose. So, he chose to bear the cross.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:23

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."  -2 Corinthians 5:21

An amazing love drove Jesus to the cross... and love kept him there. Not nails. We were worth more than the price. How can that be? And, with the new covenant sealed in blood... there is no Jew or Gentile. All have the opportunity for adoption into the family of God. The ground is all level at the foot of the cross. No favorites. No VIP line or entrance. Just an overwhelming joy for those who humbly come to kneel, believe and receive.

Good morning, Earworm. Chris Tomlin's "The Wonderful Cross" is his chosen song today. Great choice. Do you know it?

"When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless
Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all" 

He paid the price. He became our "enough" and our everything that day he cried out, "It is finished". Do we savor it? Embrace it? Do we live in the light of it, knowing we were bought with a price? 

He looked at the mess we had made of things, and still deemed us priceless. Amazing love. 

Today, I am grateful He believed we were worth more than the price.