Treasure Jesus: The Incomparable Worth of His Sacrifice

Today, we gathered to reflect on the incomparable worth of Jesus Christ and the preciousness of His sacrifice for us. In a world that chases after silver, gold, and all manner of perishable things, it is easy to lose sight of what truly matters. The things we often value—wealth, status, even our own abilities—are fleeting and ultimately powerless to redeem us. When we stand at the end of our lives, it will not be our possessions or achievements that matter, but whether we have known and treasured Jesus.

Scripture reminds us that our redemption did not come through anything this world could offer. Silver and gold, though prized by humanity, are perishable and cannot save. Our sin nature, inherited from the beginning, leaves us spiritually bankrupt before a holy God. No amount of effort, ingenuity, or earthly treasure can pay the debt we owe. Only the incorruptible, precious blood of Christ is sufficient.

Jesus is not just another figure in history; He is the eternal Son of God, the Lamb without blemish, the only one whose sacrifice could cover our sin. His blood is more valuable than all the riches of the world, and His willingness to shed it for us is a demonstration of love beyond comprehension. The Old Testament sacrificial system pointed forward to this reality, but only Jesus, the true Lamb of God, could accomplish what those sacrifices could not.

Yet, this precious treasure must be received. It is not enough to simply know about Jesus or to believe in God in a general sense. We must surrender to Christ, trusting in His death and resurrection for our salvation. This is the invitation extended to each of us: to treasure Jesus above all else, to value what He values, and to live in response to His love. As we remember His sacrifice through the Lord’s Supper, we are called to examine our hearts—repenting where we have clung to perishing things and returning to the One who gave everything for us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The world’s treasures are perishable and ultimately powerless to redeem us. No amount of wealth, status, or human effort can pay the debt of our sin or secure our souls. True value is found not in what we accumulate, but in the eternal gift God offers through Christ. [33:21]
• 2. Our sin nature is a universal inheritance, leaving every person spiritually bankrupt before a holy God. Even the most successful or moral among us cannot stand justified by our own merit. Only the blood of Jesus, pure and incorruptible, can cleanse us and restore us to God. [39:05]
• 3. Jesus is the precious, eternal treasure who alone is worthy of our trust and worship. His identity as the unblemished Lamb of God, fully divine and fully human, makes His sacrifice uniquely sufficient. To treasure Jesus is to recognize His surpassing worth above all else this world offers. [41:12]
• 4. The sacrificial system of the Old Testament was a shadow pointing to Christ, the true Lamb whose blood alone could take away sin. The repeated sacrifices of animals could never fully deal with the problem of sin, but Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice accomplished what they could not. [45:39]
• 5. Receiving the gift of Christ’s sacrifice requires more than intellectual belief; it calls for surrender and faith in Him alone. We are invited to examine our hearts, repent of misplaced affections, and return to treasuring Jesus above all. In doing so, we find forgiveness, hope, and the assurance of God’s love. [50:12]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [14:05] - Prayer for Tithes and Offerings
• [15:20] - Church Updates and Prayer Needs
• [16:00] - Reading Psalm 6
• [18:10] - Worship and Praise
• [28:36] - Introduction to 1 Peter 1
• [32:15] - The Perishing Nature of Earthly Treasures
• [34:38] - What Truly Matters at Life’s End
• [36:01] - The Futility of Worldly Pursuits
• [39:05] - Our Sin Nature and Spiritual Bankruptcy
• [40:29] - Redemption by Christ’s Precious Blood
• [41:12] - The Incomparable Worth of Jesus
• [43:22] - Jesus as the Lamb of God
• [45:39] - The Fulfillment of Sacrifice in Christ
• [49:24] - Receiving the Precious Treasure
• [51:12] - Invitation to Treasure Jesus
• [59:04] - The Lord’s Supper Explained
• [65:10] - Taking the Bread and Cup
• [66:17] - Benediction and Sending

Bible Reading

1 Peter 1:18-21 (ESV) — > knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Mark 8:36 (ESV) — > For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (ESV) — > For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Observation Questions

1. According to 1 Peter 1:18-19, what does Peter say we were redeemed from, and what was the price paid for our redemption?
2. In the sermon, what are some examples given of things the world values that are described as “perishable”? ([33:21])
3. How does the Old Testament sacrificial system point forward to Jesus, according to the sermon? ([45:39])
4. What does Jesus say in Mark 8:36 about the value of gaining the world compared to the soul?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Peter emphasize that silver and gold are “perishable” and unable to redeem us? What does this say about the things we often pursue in life? ([33:21])
2. The sermon describes our sin nature as a “virus” inherited from our forefathers. How does this understanding affect the way we view our need for redemption? ([39:05])
3. The pastor said, “Jesus is the precious, eternal treasure who alone is worthy of our trust and worship.” What makes Jesus’ sacrifice uniquely sufficient compared to all other attempts at redemption? ([41:12])
4. Why is it not enough to simply know about Jesus or believe in God in a general sense, according to the sermon? What does true faith and surrender look like? ([50:12])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to examine what we truly treasure. What is one “perishable” thing (money, status, abilities, etc.) that you tend to value too highly? How does this affect your relationship with Jesus? ([33:21])
2. When you think about the end of your life, what do you hope will matter most? Are there any priorities you feel need to change in light of the truth that only Jesus can redeem? ([34:38])
3. The pastor described Jesus as “the Lamb of God, unblemished and spotless.” How does remembering the cost and purity of Jesus’ sacrifice impact your gratitude or worship? ([41:12])
4. The Old Testament sacrifices were repeated year after year, but Jesus’ sacrifice was “once for all.” How does this truth give you assurance or hope in your daily walk with God? ([45:39])
5. The sermon said that receiving Christ’s sacrifice requires more than intellectual belief—it calls for surrender. Is there an area of your life where you are holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would it look like to trust Him more fully in that area? ([50:12])
6. As you prepare to take the Lord’s Supper (or remember it), what is one thing you need to repent of—something you’ve been clinging to that is “perishing”—so you can return to treasuring Jesus above all? ([53:35])
7. The pastor asked, “Is Jesus precious to you? Is he more precious than silver and gold?” How would you answer that honestly today, and what is one step you can take this week to treasure Jesus more? ([51:12])