Roger Bothwell

When I was in college I had to take P.E. as a part of my theology curriculum. If it really had been Physical Education I would not have minded. I wanted to know more about myself and how to get stronger. However, the curriculum was far from education. It was hell. At the first class the teacher gave us a list of things we had to do to get a certain grade. The A list was obviously longer and more difficult than the B list and the B list was harder than the C list. Wanting a good grade, I tackled the A list. It was such things as run a mile in a designated time, do 100 push-ups, etc. I had English composition class right after this farce disguised as education. It was difficult to concentrate in English because of the extreme nausea I experienced following each P.E. class. I did not get my A. I was too busy cleaning myself up after each class. Neither did I get an A in English.

I remembered this unfortunate educational experience when reading that world class athletics that run the 400 meter race often vomit during training. I had a preacher friend who told me he used to vomit each Sabbath morning before going into the pulpit. The stress to be excellent was that horrendous.

In Hebrews 1 we read that we are in a race. We are racing toward character building. We are racing toward Christ-likeness. We are racing to improve our morality and our understanding of true goodness. What we are not racing for is salvation. The reason being is salvation is a gift. Romans 6:23. The quest is to excel in righteousness.

According to Adam Smith in his classic “Wealth of Nations” the true value of something is measured by the amount of labor required to attain it.   The value of a loaf of bread can take one man an hour of labor and another man a minute of labor.  The discrepancy is the result of the skill of the laborer in producing what others will trade an hour of their labor to attain.  A man who works for 10 dollars an hour will pay 300 dollars an hour to an attorney who can do something the man cannot do for himself like keeping him out of jail.  The labor of the attorney is 30 times more valuable than the labor of the client.  

So it is that I was wondering how it was that Jesus could upon the cross pay the price for all the sins of mankind.   That is incredible value considering the rotten history of this world.  Paul says, “. . . through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. ”  Romans 5:19   Why is the labor of Jesus so valuable?

Reason number – Jesus was obedient.  That is something no one else has been able to do.  The law of supply and demand enters here. 

Reason number two – He is the creator.  (Hebrews 1)  Recently I was drooling over a magnificent painting.   The artist told me I could have it for $95,000.00.   From experience he knew the value of his work.  Jesus declares His labor adequate to cover the cost.  From experience He knows the value of His sacrifice on Calvary.