“Everything is worth what the purchaser will pay for it.” – Publilius Syrus (85-43 BC).

There are things we buy that cost a lot of money. For most of us, our home will be the most expensive item we will purchase. The family vehicles are next in line, but after that, it pretty much boils down to our likes and dislikes.

There are also things that are priceless; items all the money in the world could not buy. These things include our family, our friends, people, our freedom, our liberty.

My four children are all in their 30s. They are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves; however, if any of their lives were in danger, I would, without hesitation, trade places with them. I am also confident they would do the same for me. My point is – to me they are priceless. There is not enough money in all the world I would take for them.

If you are a good parent, you fully understand the previous paragraph. (Side note: Sadly, as generations grow more selfish, fewer parents experience the joy such a love for the children brings.)

The love I have for my children and the love you have for your kids would cause you to do whatever was necessary keep them from being hurt. As good parents, we would never intentionally put our kids in harm’s way.

Many a mom and dad have sent their child off to war. But the intention of their heart is that Johnny comes home alive. All parties involved understand that the ultimate sacrifice is a possibility, but the ultimate sacrifice is the worst case scenario for the family.

With all this in mind, consider the value of a human soul. God, the ultimate Father, sent His Son for the express purpose of dying for us.

Isaiah 53 is the most vivid description of the cross in the Old Testament. Isaiah 53:3-11, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: … Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. … Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: … He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”

God sent His Son to this earth for the express purpose of dying for our sins. Jesus was the Lamb of God, the Ultimate Sacrifice. “Wounded for our transgressions … Bruised for our iniquities … with his stripes we are healed.” No doubt here – God the Father had God the Son killed on our behalf.

Consider what it says about how the Father felt about His Son going to the cross. “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him … He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” The blood of His Son is the only sacrifice that will satisfy the Father when it comes to our sins. We cannot say enough prayers, get baptized in deep enough water, join enough churches, or do enough good works to pay for our sins. Only the blood of Christ can do that. 1 Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

Just as our children are priceless to us, Jesus was priceless to God the Father, and yet, the Father paid for our sins with the life of His Son.

How much are you worth? How much are your children worth? How much is the guy next door, the woman down the road, the superstar on stage, the bum in the gutter, the factory worker, the politician; how much is anyone worth?

“Everything is worth what the purchaser will pay for it.”

“For ye are bought with a price …” 1 Corinthians 6:20.