Matthew 27:32-44

Matthew 27:32-44 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Ebay is really a fascinating place - you learn the value of things by the price someone else is willing to pay.  Someone once spent $10,000 on two pieces of Luis Gonzalez's used chewing gum.  A New York Knicks fan recently sold his fandom for $3,500.  Someone once sold the meaning of life for $3.26.  A corn flake shaped like Illinois sold for $1,350 in 2008.  You might not think some of these things have value, but they do, because someone else was willing to pay money for it.  Your house, your dinner -- these things have value, because you're willing to pay money for it.  If they had no value to you, then you wouldn't offer up a single cent for it.
  So we learn what things are worth by what people are willing to pay.

  We learn that you are so valuable to God that you are worth the life of God's Son, Jesus Christ.  Such is the Father's love for you that God is willing to offer God's Son -- who is of infinite value -- so that your life might be redeemed from the powers of sin and death.  You are so valuable -- we learn this by what God is willing to pay, and God will pay any price, even the price of God's own Son.

  So do not listen to the lie that you do not matter.  Don't believe that for a second.  You are of infinite value to God, and every single person you meet today has that same value, because God loves you enough to send Jesus Christ into the world to die for you.