Easter Sunday 2009: What Is Your Life Worth?

What Is Your Life Worth?
Mark 8: 34 – 38.

I. Introduction.

Join me this morning as we reflect on the title of the sermon: What is your life worth? What value would you place on your life? Is your life something that can be measured in a monetary value?

Scientists from Japan and the United States have actually done research to determine the value of a human body based on its chemical composition. Of course, many of the basic building blocks of your body are minerals which are traded on the commodities markets, so the value of your body will fluctuate along with the New York Stock Exchange and the Japanese Nikkei Index.

The elements of the human body and the skin combine for an approximate value of $4.50. The skin on an average human body is worth $3.50 by itself. The elements and minerals that make up human life are worth about $1.00.[1]

The Indiana University School of Medicine cites a different kind of study on the human body. This study, conducted by Wired Magazine, came up with different results. Instead of breaking down a human body into basic elements and minerals, Wired Magazine placed a monetary value on human tissues, organs and fluids based on the amounts insurance companies pay for organ and tissue transplants. This study claims that the working parts of a human body are worth an estimated $45 Million.[2]

Somewhere in the middle of these two surveys, we meet a man named Ian Usher. In 2001, Ian Usher moved from England to Australia with his wife. Six years later (2007), they went through a very painful divorce. Ian continued to live in the house he and his wife had built, surrounded by all the furnishings and memories he shared with his wife. After a year of trying to forget his pain and move on with his life, Ian decided it was time to take drastic measures. He put his life up for sale on the Internet.

You cannot sell your life on eBay, so Ian had to set up his own website, www.ALife4Sale.com. Ian’s life included: a three-bedroom house, car, motorcycle, jet ski, all his friends, his memories of his wife, and his job. (His employer agreed to allow the person who bought Ian’s life to work at the rug shop for two weeks with the potential of permanent employment.)

The website was set up like an auction. The bidding began at $1.00, but Ian was hopeful it would go as high as $500,000. But, it didn’t. The auction for Ian’s life ended with a disappointing high bid of $399,000. Then, to add insult to injury, the person who won the auction couldn’t get the financing to complete the sale.[3]

The question about the value of your life is not something we should take lightly. Sure, I have cited a chemical survey that underestimates the value of life; a survey about organ and tissue transplants that is illegal and unethical; as well as a silly story about a heartbroken man who failed to sell his life online. However, this is a question Jesus asked his disciples. This is a question Jesus asks us to consider as well.

Read Mark 8: 34 – 38.

I believe Jesus is talking about discipleship in this Scripture. On one hand, this teaching falls in the context of what I call the “discipleship section” of Mark. On the other hand, this teaching comes at a time when Jesus is setting his course toward Jerusalem and the crucifixion.

“Counting the cost” is an evaluation Jesus asks from all of his followers. If you want to be a disciple, a follower of Jesus, a Christian, then you must be willing to give your life away for Jesus and for the sake of the Gospel. As you evaluate your life today, which do you think is more valuable? Is it better to continue living life on your own terms? Or is it better to give your life away to Jesus in exchange for eternal life in heaven?

One of the goals Jesus had in offering this teaching to his disciples was to prepare them for what was about to take place. Jesus began by predicting his death. Jesus knew that his teaching and healing ministry had angered the religious and political leaders. Jesus knew that his view of the Kingdom of God was in direct conflict with the views and values of the powerful elite. Jesus knew that if he continued to teach about God’s Kingdom, he would be rejected; he would suffer; and he would die on the cross. Jesus knew that continuing on his journey to Jerusalem would lead him to the cross. But, Jesus also knew this was his purpose.

The cross was Jesus’ purpose… Because the cross is the only value that can ever be placed on a human life.

The story begins with the story of creation in Genesis 1 and 2. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. God spoke, and everything we see came into existence. The sun, moon, stars and earth were created by the Word of God. The plants, insects and animals were created when God said, “Let there be…” There is only one thing God created without speaking a word—human beings. When God created humans, he got his hands dirty. He reached down, scooped up a handful of dirt (probably about $1.00 worth of dirt), shaped the dirt into a human being, then breathed into the human the breath of life—God’s own breath.

Practically speaking, the act of creation shows there is something different about human beings that separate us from the rest of creation. God didn’t speak humanity into existence. God didn’t call us forth from the chaos. No. God shaped us and formed us and breathed his own breath into us.

Theologically speaking, there is another difference that separates humanity from the rest of God’s creation.

Genesis 1: 27, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

God created human beings in his own image.

I think it is important for us to realize that God did not create us to BE our own gods. God created us to REFLECT the image of the one true God. We fulfill God’s purpose for our lives when we reflect his image to others. We live up to our greatest potential when other people see God at work in our lives.

Another way to think of this is to think of our relationship with God like the relationship between the sun and the moon. The sun is the source of all light on the planet earth. We are only aware of the sun during the daytime. At night, there is another “light” in the sky—the moon. However, the moon is NOT a source of light. It is merely a reflection of the light emanating from the sun. The moon fulfills its purpose by reflecting the light from the sun. In the same way, I fulfill my purpose by reflecting the image of God.

The story of Easter is the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Easter was not a surprise to Jesus. He knew that he had come to earth as God’s only-begotten Son to suffer and die on a Roman cross and to rise again on the third day. He predicted this to his disciples in Mark 8. This was no surprise to Jesus. It was his purpose. Jesus had to die and rise again. This was the only way to place a value on the human life.

You and I were created in the image of God, to reflect God’s image to the world. Jesus lived a human life on earth. But, The New Testament tells us that Jesus’ life was different from ours.

Hebrews 1: 3, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (NIV).”

Colossians 1: 15, “He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation (NIV).”

This is the Good News! Chemists believe your life is worth $4.50. Transplant doctors and insurance companies believe your life is worth $45 Million. If you are lucky, you might find someone on the Internet willing to pay $400,000 for your life. But, God thinks you are so valuable that he gave his only-begotten Son.

God could not send any human being to purchase your life. He sent his Son—the exact representation of his being, the perfect image of the invisible God—to die on the cross and to rise again. This is how much your life is worth TO GOD.


II. What Are Other People Worth?

Since you and I were created in the image of God, our lives cannot be measured in monetary values. But, what about other people? What about the people who do not go to church? What about the people who do not even believe in God?

In God’s eyes, their lives are just as valuable as yours and mine.

John 3: 16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5: 8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God did not send Jesus to die for Christians. God sent Jesus to die for sinners. God sent Jesus to die for the world.


III. Conclusion.

What is your life worth (to God)? He sent his only Son to die for you.

What are other people worth (to God)? He sent his only Son to die for a world of sinners.

But, what are other people worth to you? Now THAT is an interesting question.

The best answer I have ever found to this question comes from the mouth of a professed atheist—magician and comedian Penn Jillette. Two weeks ago, I discovered a video of Penn describing a Christian man who tried to witness to him after a show. As you watch this video, keep in mind…This is an atheist talking.


Penn Says - Micro Church Message Video from The Church at Chapel Hill on Vimeo.

How much do we hate other people when we refuse to tell them about Jesus? God loves sinners so much that he sent his only Son. We love others so much that…

I can think of three decisions God may be calling you to make today.

Is God calling you to give your life to Jesus today?

Perhaps, God is calling you to be a better witness—to do something “socially awkward” by telling your friends that Jesus died for them.

Perhaps, God is calling you to start inviting your friends to church. If you believe your church makes a difference in your life…If you believe your church preaches the Gospel…If you believe your church has something to offer the people you care about… Then, telling your friends about your church is a way to tell them about Jesus.


[1] http://www.coolquiz.com/trivia/explain/docs/worth.asp

[2] http://soundmedicine.iu.edu/archive/2003/quiz/humanWorth.html

[3] http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23391578-23109,00.html, http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23690706/, http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/03/after-divorce-m.html, http://www.alife4sale.com/index.htm, http://alife4saleblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/who-bought-alife4sale-all-answers.html.