Was it worth it?

Jesus said) . . . "even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28

Jennifer Lee and her husband, Keith, went into the mountains of Oregon to cut down a Christmas tree for their family.

They went prepared. They had a GPS, an all-wheel drive Subaru, and they had their phones.

They were prepared for almost anything … except for running into a snowdrift that just about buried their vehicle. When Keith tried to rock the car out of the ditch, he failed. Every time he rocked the vehicle, it moved closer to a cliff.

Out of cell phone range and not being able to get their car free, Jennifer and Keith became concerned. Nobody knew exactly where to find them. Nobody knew where to begin looking.

For days, Keith and Jennifer Lee waited and hoped for rescue. Finally, Keith had a new idea and freed the vehicle. In a short time, he and his wife were reunited with the kids. Speaking about her ordeal, Jennifer said, "What were we thinking? $30 for a Christmas tree? Just pay the $30 and be done with it."

She concluded, "$30 wasn't worth our life."

I would agree with Jennifer's evaluation of her value. She is worth more than $30 -- the price of a Christmas tree.

Having said that, I would also agree the life of Jesus Christ was worth more, far more than the 30 pieces of silver Judas got from the religious authorities.

"How much more?" Is that what I hear you asking? How much more was Jesus worth?

I don't know. Look into the manger and see the Son of God. He is fully God, yet fully Man. The Lord of glory veiled in human flesh. He left His palace in heaven to be born in a barn. He had been surrounded by cherubim and seraphim, but at His birth He was surrounded by cows, donkeys and smelly shepherds.

Jesus is the Lord of life who came into this world for the express purpose of dying. The manger would always lead to the cross.

He is the Creator who breathed life into His creation, who then breathed His last for His fallen creation.

He is the Holy One who cannot look upon sin, who came into this barren wasteland of sin.

He is the object of angelic worship, yet He humbled Himself to be wear diapers, be weaned and become wearied; to hunger, thirst and sweat; get slivers and calluses; to endure a beating and a whipping.

He is the Omnipresent One, who exists in all places at one and the same time, yet He allowed Himself to be confined to a single place in the person of Jesus. He is the Omnipotent One, almighty and all-powerful, who became a helpless baby. He is the Omniscient One, all-seeing and all-knowing, who as a child increased in wisdom and knowledge.

Listen to Jesus as He preaches. Watch as He does His miracles. Stand and watch as He was hunted down by Herod, tempted by Satan, shunned by the religious elite, betrayed by a disciple and denied by a close friend. Watch as He was beaten, scourged and crucified, railroaded to His death.

What is that worth to you?

What is it worth that Jesus carried your sins; that Jesus died so you might live; that Jesus lives so you may have victory over the grave; that Jesus rules to work all things for the best for His kingdom.

Jesus left His home so you might have a heavenly mansion. He carried your sin so you might be declared innocent. He gave His life so you might live forever.

What is that worth? Look into the manger and see how much God loves you.
And offer God thanks that Christ the Savior has been born.