“The Journey of a Lifetime: Everything Has a Price”
Mt. 21:1-11
A teenaged boy – let’s call him Fred – with great academic potential was unable to go to college because he could not afford it. But one day Fred received a call from the college to which he had applied – a new scholarship had been established and he had been chosen as the recipient. His tuition, room, & board would be paid. He was ecstatic. Only later did Fred learn that the money for the scholarship came from a memorial fund established in memory of another teenager – who was tragically killed when run over by a drunken driver. Fred went to college at the expense of her life. EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE.
The following letter to the editor appeared in the Grand Rapids Press 12 years ago – it was written by a 19 year old Kenowa Hills High School student: “I am a 19-year old from the Dinka Tribe in Sudan in Africa. Because of war my parents were killed and my sisters, brothers, and I were separated. I was in refugee camps for 13 years…While in the camps I lived with thousands of other refugees. We suffered greatly from lack of food, water, medicine, shelter, and security. It was difficult to stay alive. At least two or three refugees died every day. Most of these refugees were children. The war in Sudan has killed 2.5 million people, all because of the north’s intolerance of Christianity. If the world would support tolerance and help the refugees like the U.S. tried to do, maybe we would have peace. The United States is tolerant. It helps weak countries and the poor. I know because they helped me. That is why I am here. My life here is so much better than before. Now I think about what I will do in the future, instead of who might kill me today, or what I will have to eat. While in Africa I saw and knew only war…I believe that no countries were free. Now, I know better. I have finally found freedom in the United States. I did not know it was possible…” James is free – but only because thousands of Americans offered their lives, many to the point of death, to defend and preserve our freedom. EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE.
The renowned pianist Paderewski , after finishing a brilliant concert, was told by an admiring woman, Sir, you are a genius,” to which he responded, “Madam, before I was a genius, I was a drudge,” His brilliance came through death – that is, hard work and self-denial. The famous runner Jim Ryun, who set a world record for the mile when he was eighteen years old, said this about his training, “I would run until I felt I couldn’t take another step, then I would run until I felt my lungs were going to burst. When I got to that state, then I would run until I thought I was going to pass out. When I did this, I was making progress.” (1) EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE.
Throughout this Lenten season and series we’ve been following Pilgrim on his journey to the Celestial City. It’s been an adventuresome, but trouble-filled journey. From the moment he decided to get rid of his burden of sin by walking the narrow road, he began making difficult choices and confronting overwhelming obstacles. He left his family, friends, and home behind. He fell into the slough of despond, he battled Apollyon (Satan), was imprisoned in Vanity Fair where his companion Faithful was put to death, and then was imprisoned in Doubting Castle where only the Key of Promise freed him. Every step of the narrow way required Pilgrim to stay focused on the straight, narrow, hard way. As we’ll see next week, Pilgrim will make it to Celestial City – but only after paying a price. EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE.
Charles Spurgeon aptly wrote, “God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains his soldiers, not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and using them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many a long mile with heavy knapsacks of sorrow on their backs.” (2) EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE.
The nation of Israel was mired in intolerable, unbearable slavery. God heard their cry and led them out of Egypt in to the Promised Land. Of course, every Israelite family had to kill a perfect lamb and spread its blood on their doorpost, and every Egyptian family witnessed the death of their first-born son. Blood had to be shed for freedom. EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE.
Once free, the Israelites were able to worship God, to enter the temple and give God honor and praise. But to do so, they had to offer an unblemished lamb, a perfect sacrifice, on the fiery altar. Because of the separation between humankind and God, only through death could one ever enter into God’s presence and receive forgiveness. Someone, something needed to pay for sin. EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE.
Jesus’ disciples were anxious to follow Jesus. But they found the way hard and filled with trouble. Jesus once told them some parables about Kingdom life (Mt. 13:44-46). “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Jesus was teaching them that EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE.
The disciples learned and lived the principle. Consider how they died.
Simon Peter was crucified upside down; Andrew was crucified; James was beheaded; John was exiled and died of old age; Matthew was speared to death; Bartholomew was beaten and then then crucified; Philip was crucified; Thomas was speared to death; Simon was crucified; Thaddaeus was stoned to death. EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE.
Then there’s Jesus. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. “A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" They were rejoicing in their new King. Jesus would, indeed, be victorious over the enemy. Jesus would, indeed, set up His Kingdom. Jesus would, indeed, take the seat of power and reign. Jesus would, indeed, rule the world. But after a time of intense prayer to His Father, Jesus went to His sleeping disciples and said, “Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" He was crucified, dead, and buried. EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE.
So today we proclaim Jesus as King – and we should. But He is a King by virtue of the price He paid. (Phil 2:5-11 NLT) “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
So how do you see Jesus? As a resource to help in a time of need? As a guarantee when assurance is needed? As a strength in time of weakness? As a healer in time of brokenness? As a ruler in time of trouble and temptation? As a comfort in times of sorrow? He is all of these. But how often do you see Him as the Suffering Savior who paid the price? “Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain, he washed it white as snow.” Hallelujah! What a Savior!
But EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE. Remember that this Savior said (Jn. 12:26) “Whoever serves me must follow me… The man who loves his life will lose it…while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Hate your life and save your life. We are bent on self-preservation but we need to live beyond ourselves to live. So what does it mean to hate your life? Jesus died long before He was crucified. He first died to – hated – Himself. He often said that He had come not to do His own will, but the will of His Father. In Gethsemane, as He wrestled with His impending crucifixion, He promised His Father, “Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.”
So we are to hate our lives – WE ARE TO DIE TO OURSELVES. This means we major in letting go rather than in hanging on. It’s not that we neglect ourselves – it’s that our concern for ourselves must stand beneath a higher concern. You who have been or are parents – What happened when your children were born? Your needs, wants, and desires still existed. But they no longer took first place – your children took control! You became obsessed with their needs, wants, and desires. You did not regret having children (though there may have been moments when you wondered!) but you regarded yourself as less important. To hate your life, to die to yourself, is to prefer your life – your needs, wants, and desires – below something else.
Similarly, when we accept Jesus Christ as the Lord of life, WE LOSE OURSELVES IN JESUS CHRIST’S DESIRES AND WANTS. WE, too, must say, “Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.”
It was in Asia, in the 1970’s. The communist soldiers had discovered their illegal Bible study. As the pastor was reading from the Bible, men with guns suddenly broke into the home, terrorizing the believers who had gathered there to worship. The Communists shouted insults and threatened to kill the Christians. The leading officer pointed his gun at the pastor’s head. “Hand me your Bible,” he demanded. Reluctantly, the pastor handed over his Bible, his prized possession. With a sneer on his face, the guard threw the Word of God on the floor at his feet. He glared at the small congregation. “We will let you go,” he growled, “but first, you must spit on this book of lies. Anyone who refuses will be shot.” The believers had no choice but to obey the officer’s order. A soldier pointed his gun at one of the men. “You first.” The man slowly got up and knelt down by the Bible. Reluctantly, he spit on it, praying, “Father, please forgive me.” He stood up and walked to the door. The soldiers stood back and allowed him to leave. “Okay, you!” the solider said, nudging a woman forward. In tears, she could barely do what the soldier demanded. She spit only a little, but it is enough. She too was allowed to leave. Quietly, a young girl (16-17 years old) came forward. Overcome with love for her Lord, she knelt down and picked up the Bible. She wiped off the spit with her dress. “What have they done to Your Word? Please forgive them,” she prayed. The Communist soldier put his pistol to her head. Then he pulled the trigger. (3) EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE.
Nabeel Qureshi was born and bred a Muslim. As he entered college, he felt confident in the truth of Islam. He wrote, “It gave me discipline, purpose, morals, family values, and clear direction for worship. Islam was the lifeblood that coursed through my veins. Islam was my identity, and I loved it. I boldly issued the call of Islam to anyone and everyone who would listen, proclaiming that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger. And it was there, atop the minaret of Islamic life, that Jesus called to me.” Largely because of the influence of a Christian friend, his college years at Old Dominion sent him questioning his faith. Here’s his description of what happened.
“In the summer after graduating from Old Dominion, I began imploring God daily, "Tell me who you are! If you are Allah, show me how to believe in you. If you are Jesus, tell me! Whoever you are, I will follow you, no matter the cost." By the end of my first year in medical school, God had given me a vision and three dreams, the second of which was the most powerful. In it I was standing at the threshold of a strikingly narrow door, watching people take their seats at a wedding feast. I desperately wanted to get in, but I was not able to enter, because I had yet to accept my friend David's invitation to the wedding. When I awoke, I knew what God was telling me, but I sought further verification. It was then that I found the parable of the narrow door, in Luke 13:22–30. God was showing me where I stood.
But I still couldn't walk through the door. How could I betray my family after all they had done for me? By becoming a Christian, not only would I lose all connection with the Muslim community around me, my family would lose their honor as well. My decision would not only destroy me, it would also destroy my family, the ones who loved me most and sacrificed so much for me.
For Muslims, following the gospel is more than a call to prayer. It is a call to die. I began mourning the impact of the decision I knew I had to make. On the first day of my second year of medical school, it became too much to bear. Yearning for comfort, I decided to skip school. Returning to my apartment, I placed the Qur'an and the Bible in front of me. I turned to the Qur'an, but there was no comfort there. For the first time, the book seemed utterly irrelevant to my suffering. Irrelevant to my life. It felt like a dead book. With nowhere left to go, I opened up the New Testament and started reading. Very quickly, I came to the passage that said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
Electric, the words leapt off the page and jump-started my heart. I could not put the Bible down. I began reading fervently, reaching Matthew 10:37, which taught me that I must love God more than my mother and father. "But Jesus," I said, "accepting you would be like dying. I will have to give up everything." The next verses spoke to me, saying, "He who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake will find it" (NASB). Jesus was being very blunt: For Muslims, following the gospel is more than a call to prayer. It is a call to die.
I knelt at the foot of my bed and gave up my life. A few days later, the two people I loved most in this world were shattered by my betrayal. To this day my family is broken by the decision I made, and it is excruciating every time I see the cost I had to pay. But Jesus is the God of reversal and redemption. He redeemed sinners to life by his death, and he redeemed a symbol of execution by repurposing it for salvation. He redeemed my suffering by making me rely upon him for my every moment, bending my heart toward him. It was there in my pain that I knew him intimately. He reached me through investigations, dreams, and visions, and called me to prayer in my suffering. It was there that I found Jesus. TO FOLLOW HIM IS WORTH GIVING UP EVERYTHING.” (4)
So today, we worship Jesus our King; we celebrate His rule of love; we give Him the honor that is due to Him. We shout ‘Hosanna in the highest!” But remember – EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE. What is the price for you?
(1) Hughes, R. IK. (1999). John: That You May Believe, Crossway Books, Wheaton IL., p. 300-301
(2) http://ref.ly/o/morneve/187279?length=424 via @Logos
(3)Jesus Freaks, © 1999 by Albury Publising, p. 50-51
(4) Christianity Today, posted January 8, 2014
